Elected leaders, clergy urge Democratic voters to unite behind Hollier

A group of 40 elected leaders and local clergy signed onto a new letter urging Democratic voters in Detroit and Wayne County to unite behind former state Sen. Adam Hollier, who is challenging first-term U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar for his seat in Congress.

The letter to the community is signed by a number of prominent Democrats in Michigan's 13th District who have already endorsed Hollier, including former U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence of Southfield, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate, Wayne County Commissioner Alisha Bell and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak.

They're aiming to keep the race a head-to-head between Hollier and Thanedar to avoid splitting the vote in another multi-candidate race that could result in Thanedar's reelection.

"... We all know that the only way we will win this race and bring real change to Washington is by standing united, from the outset. Division will only help to preserve the status quo — and we simply can’t afford that," the letter reads.

"Today, we’re calling on voters from across the community to join us in supporting Adam Hollier for Congress. ... He's someone who we can be proud of as he walks the halls of Congress — someone who will listen, who will show up and who will never stop fighting for us."

Thanedar in response released a statement saying Hollier "has always been focused on insiders."

"I’ve always prided myself on speaking directly to voters. I have a strong record of helping thousands of constituents, bringing millions of dollars to help families in our district, and fighting for economic prosperity for all the people I represent. That’s why I’ve been honored to win Detroit five times in a row," Thanedar said in statement, a reference to his winning Detroit during his previous campaigns for governor and state House.

The letter recounts that Thanedar's election marked the first time in nearly 70 years that majority-Black Detroit doesn't have a Black lawmaker representing the city in Congress after Lawrence retired in January.

Thanedar, who is Indian American, won a nine-way Democratic primary contest last year, with Hollier coming in second with 24% to Thanedar's 28%. The vote splintered among eight African American candidates, leading to victory for Thanedar, who put $6 million of his fortune into his campaign and whose ads ran on heavy rotation on TV.

The signers of the letter are signaling they want to avoid a repeat of 2022, with multiple African American candidates splitting the vote. The signers noted that many of them backed a different Democratic candidate in 2022, but have since decided to get behind Hollier.

"We know that Black voters are the bedrock of the Democratic Party, and we know what Adam’s election will mean for so many across the community," they wrote. "Representation matters, and Adam’s election will energize and mobilize Black voters and young voters alike — two groups that will decide the fate of the Presidential election here in Michigan."

The 13th District covers much of Detroit, the Grosse Pointes and Downriver communities.

Other signatories to the letter include Virgie Rollins, chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Black Caucus; Detroit City Council President Pro-Tem James Tate; Detroit Councilmen Scott Benson and Fred Durhal, Harper Woods Mayor Valerie Kindle; Judge Greg Mathis; the Revs. Steve Bland, Lawrence Rodgers, Sterling Brewer, John Duckworth, Horace Sheffield and Bishop Charles Ellis.

State Sens. Dayna Polehanki of Livonia and Sylvia Santana of Detroit and state Reps. Tyrone Carter of Detroit and Mike McFall of Hazel Park also signed on.

The letter, provided to The Detroit News by Hollier's campaign, comes as several other Democratic contenders have indicated they're considering a run.

Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters is circulating petitions to get on the ballot, and Democrat John Conyers III, son of the late congressman, has also said he's considering a bid. Republican Martell Bivings, who ran last cycle, has also filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.

Hollier in launching his campaign in October cast Thanedar as an "out-of-touch millionaire" who doesn't understand what working families are up against and who hasn't made tangible progress on 13th District priorities such as affordable housing or gun violence in Washington.

Hollier served for 10 months earlier this year in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Cabinet as director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.

mburke@detroitnews.com