On Friday, leaders from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) publicly endorsed Democratic candidate Adam Hollier in the primary election for Detroit’s congressional seat. Hollier aims to unseat incumbent Democrat Shri Thanedar.
CBC Chair Representative Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) and former Chair Representative Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) joined a growing list of Democrats supporting Hollier, who has already received endorsements from Michigan’s Secretary of State, the State House Speaker, and other state legislators.
Horsford praised Hollier, an Army veteran and director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, for his lifelong commitment to serving his community and country. He expressed confidence in Hollier’s ability to be an effective representative, prioritizing people over politics, and fighting for freedoms, rights, and opportunities for all.
Hollier won the state Senate election for District 2 in 2018 and ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022, losing to Thanedar in the Democratic primary. Thanedar, the first Indian American to represent Michigan in Congress, won his seat by a huge margin in 2022, breaking a 67-year streak of Black representation from Detroit.
Currently, there are no Black members of Congress from Detroit. Thanedar has faced criticism for allegedly running a toxic work environment, neglecting his constituents in Detroit, and spending excessive time on social media. Beatty highlighted Hollier’s commitment to showing up and delivering results, contrasting him with politicians prioritizing tweeting over action.
Interestingly, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) seemed unaware of the CBC’s support for Hollier, according to Punchbowl News. Jeffries emphasized his track record of supporting incumbent House Democratic Caucus members.
Nevertheless, Hollier expressed gratitude for Horsford’s and Beatty’s endorsements and looked forward to working with them in Congress to safeguard rights, protect democracy, and deliver for those in need. The heavily Democratic district will hold its primary election in August.