May 23rd 2024.
The top Black representative of Detroit, a prominent Democrat, has been disqualified from the August 2024 primary ballot due to a lack of valid signatures, according to the county clerk. This means that for the second year in a row, the Motor City will not have a Black representative in Congress, despite its significant Black population. This is a major blow for the city, which has managed to maintain some form of Black representation in Congress for nearly 70 years.
The former state senator, Adam Hollier, had submitted 1,550 signatures, well above the required 1,000. However, his opponent, U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, challenged the validity of these signatures. Upon reviewing the signatures, the Wayne County election staff found that almost half of them were invalid. In a letter to Thanedar, County Clerk Cathy Garrett announced that she had adopted the staff's recommendation and determined that Hollier's petitions were insufficient to secure a spot on the primary ballot.
This ruling is a major victory for Thanedar, who is seeking reelection, and has been endorsed by prominent Michigan Democrats, including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Hollier, on the other hand, had the support of faith leaders and even the Congressional Black Caucus. This decision has caused some concern among blue voters in Detroit, as well as Democrats in general, according to Democratic strategist Adrian Hemond.
Having Black representation in Congress is important for motivating Black voters to participate in elections, Hemond explains. This is not the first time a Michigan candidate has been accused of signature fraud. In 2022, five Republican candidates for governor were kept off the ballot due to alleged invalid signatures. Some individuals were charged with forgery and other related crimes, but the candidates themselves were not accused of knowingly submitting fraudulent petitions.
Upon receiving the news from the county clerk, Hollier expressed his disappointment in a statement. He stated that he was not disappointed for himself, but for the voters of the 13th District who deserve a real choice in their next Congressperson. Hollier also acknowledged that while he trusted someone who let him down in the collection of signatures, the ultimate responsibility for the campaign falls on him. He also called for reform in the state's system of ballot access and petition collection to prevent future cases of fraud.
With Hollier out of the race, attention may now shift to former state House member Mary Waters, who has served on the Detroit City Council since 2021. However, Waters is behind in terms of fundraising, having raised less than $10,000 by the end of March 2024. Another candidate, attorney Shakira Lynn Hawkins, is also running in the Democratic primary.
Hollier has stated that he will make a decision in the coming days, and his campaign has the option to appeal the county clerk's decision to the Secretary of State's office or to file with the Wayne County Circuit Court to overturn it. This race has certainly taken an unexpected turn, and only time will tell how it will ultimately play out.
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