When Robert Lulgjuraj, a Republican from Sterling Heights, Michigan, began his campaign for the state’s 10th Congressional District last week, the former prosecutor quickly earned the support of Republican grassroots activist Brian Pannebecker, a retired autoworker from Macomb County who worked tirelessly to bring home Michigan for President Donald Trump last November.
“Robert, like me was born and raised in Macomb County, and the city where we grew up, Sterling Heights, is now heavily populated with very patriotic Albanian-American and Chaldean residents, man o them auto workers and U.A.W. members,” said Pannebecker, who led over 22 rallies outside of auto plants represented by the United Auto Workers union in an effort to help seal the deal for Trump in Michigan.
Lulgjuraj, who served as a prosecutor with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, is running for Michigan’s open congressional seat currently held by Rep. John James (R-MI) of Shelby Township. James is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in next year’s midterm cycle.
The race for Michigan’s 10th District will be critical in deciding which party will hold the majority in January 2027. The GOP currently holds a 219-212 majority in the House.
If Lulgjuraj is successful, he will be the first Albanian American to serve in Congress since New York’s Joseph DioGuardi in the late 1980s — although DioGuardi was also half Italian. Both of Lulgjuraj’s parents are of Albanian descent.
The Albanian population in the United States is highly concentrated in only a few states: New York, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Many arrived in the U.S. in the mid- to late 20th century to escape communism and religious persecution.
Pannebecker explained that Michigan’s 10th District covers Macomb and parts of Oakland counties.
“It is ethnically diverse, but heavily also heavily Albanian American, which will benefit Lulgjuraj,” he explained, adding that his experience in law enforcement and as a prosecutor makes him a solid fit in the heavily “American first” district.
The 10th District, which was drawn by an independent commission in 2022, is fairly equally split. James narrowly defeated former Macomb County Judge Carl Marlinga in the first race for the newly drawn district by just over 1,500 votes. Two years later, James and Marlinga faced each other again, with James defeating Marlinga comfortably by over six points.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner, the charismatic Lulgjuraj said purpose and vocation are what inspired him to run for office.
“My story, I know for a fact, is only possible in the greatest country in the world, which is America. So I do unequivocally believe in the American dream, and I’ve been a recipient of the American dream,” he said.
Lulgjuraj’s family came to Detroit for the automotive field in the 1960s.
“My grandparents came to escape communism, religious persecution, and tyranny. Catholicism and the ability to practice their faith were just a huge part of why they migrated, as well as the opportunity for jobs,” he explained.
“My grandfather was an auto worker at Chrysler in Detroit, and my grandmother was a dishwasher. And my mom, right now, as we’re speaking, is a waitress waiting tables, and my father’s a maintenance man,” Lulgjuraj continued, adding that someone with his background rising to become a prosecutor and run for office is the American ethos.
“My parents sacrificed vehemently for me, and for that I want to give back to thank them, to thank my country, and to thank and serve my community,” he said.
HOUSE GOP TARGETS MIDWEST AS FIGHT FOR MAJORITY INTENSIFIES
Macomb County, a working-class stronghold, represents a significant source of Republican votes in metro Detroit. It has moved further to the right since 2012 and has been sharp and consistent for the president as well. Trump narrowly won it in 2016, and by 2024, he carried Macomb County by 13 points. In April, Trump celebrated his first 100 days in office in the county.
The Democrats’ challenge for the 10th District seat will be the working class that makes up most of Macomb County. Their influence has moved mainly from supporting Obama in 2008 and 2012 to making the difference in the Michigan vote count in 2024.