Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) is backing a primary challenger to her fellow House Democratic colleague Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) in a rare dispute between members of the same congressional delegation and party.
Tlaib is backing Democratic state Rep. Donavan McKinney to oust Thanedar in the primary for Michigan‘s 13th Congressional District, which represents the Detroit area. Though it is unusual for a sitting lawmaker to endorse a challenger to someone within their same delegation, Tlaib’s decision is not surprising given the icy relationship between herself and Thanedar.
The Michigan congresswoman has consistently accused him of being an “absent” member, and the two have battled over the Israel-Hamas war since the Hamas attacks in October 2023.
“Centering community not only means standing up to corporate donors and lobbyists, but also means fighting to address community needs through robust community services and responsive representation. This type of leadership is missing for residents in the 13th, and I know Donavan will bring it — I’ve already seen him do so as State Representative,” Tlaib said. “I’m proud to have Donavan’s back because I know he’ll always have Michiganders’ backs — and because I know when it comes to real representation, Michigan’s 13th district deserves better.”
Tlaib and Thanedar have been trading insults for the last few years. The two clashed in a rare public dispute when Thanedar criticized Tlaib’s use of the word “resistance” back in 2023 regarding Hamas’s invasion of Israel. Tlaib, the only Palestinian American serving in Congress, then responded in a statement that Thanedar was an absent congressman who failed to provide adequate constituent services.
On Monday, Tlaib posted photos in the aftermath of a water main break in Detroit, calling it a “horrific disaster” and “Shri was completely absent.”
“Any member who sees images like this and does nothing to help shouldn’t be serving our families,” she wrote on X.
Thanedar responded on Tuesday, saying Tlaib “showed up for the cameras,” while he “actually went to work and contacted FEMA and coordinated with constituents.”
“Rashida should have used her time in front of the cameras to explain why she was one of the only Dems to vote against the bipartisan Infrastructure Act to replace aging water mains and to create thousands of new union jobs,” Thanedar said.
McKinney’s team said Tlaib’s backing is the first congressional endorsement of a Democratic primary opponent to an incumbent for the 2026 cycle. The state representative praised Tlaib in a statement to the Detroit News, saying, “It’s about time those constituents have a Congressman that answers their calls, and Rep. Tlaib has a real partner in serving our communities.”
Despite opposition to his representation and lack of strong support from fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill, Thanedar has managed to hold onto his seat he won in the 2022 elections.
He defeated eight other Democratic primary candidates that year, including another current challenger, Adam Hollier. Though facing two opponents this cycle, Thanedar could benefit from another fractured primary, as Michigan state law requires only a plurality to win the nomination.
Hollier is back for round three after mounting a second unsuccessful run against the congressman last cycle, but his campaign sank after a petition scandal led to his disqualification from the ballot, allowing Thanedar to sail to an easy reelection with no primary challengers.
McKinney’s endorsement from Justice Democrats, the progressive group that helped launch Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) upset candidacy in 2018, could give him a significant boost in the race. The local Democratic base and leaders have also been clamoring for black representation in the 13th District for years, giving McKinney an edge.
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But Thanedar has proven he is not afraid to sink millions of his own personal fortune into his campaign, donating $9 million to his campaign in the 2022 cycle and another $5 million for his 2024 reelection. He’s also been defending his record on social media, arguing his office has resolved nearly 3,000 constituent cases and recovered $3 million for residents in his district.
Thanedar has also been grabbing headlines for filing articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
“Constituents in MI-13 know the truth. They can call my office and get a live person. We’re available 24/7 on my website. Every month, we get several calls from residents of MI-12, and we either solve the problem or direct them to their representative,” Thanedar said in a statement. “We’ve solved 3,000 cases and recovered over $3.7 million for constituents. That’s why Detroit voted for me seven times in a row, and that’s why I know voters in the 13th will send me back to D.C. for my third term.”