Detroit mayor says US Rep. Thanedar is ‘not helping’ city in endorsing his primary challenger

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar is facing a rare push from members within his own party to replace him in Michigan’s August primary, spearheaded by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Black leaders from across Wayne County.

Detroit City Council member Mary Waters has emerged as the top contender to unseat Thanedar in Detroit’s 13 Congressional District after former state Sen. Adam Hollier, who had received a slew of high-profile endorsements, was kept off the August ballot due to a lack of valid signatures on his nominating petitions.

At least some of Detroit’s highest ranking Democrats have thrown their support behind Waters in an effort to defeat Thanedar. Duggan was joined by five Detroit City Council members and three state representatives from the Detroit area at a news conference Thursday on Mackinac Island, where many of the state’s top Democrats were attending a conference.

“Our future is in Washington and we need somebody in Congress who fights for us. And right now, I don’t feel like we got any help from our congressman,” Duggan said. ”He’s not a bad person, he’s just not helping.”

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