Through the primary election on August 4 on the MLC Blog we will highlight races for which the primary is the key race due to the voter base.  Candidate’s website and professional information is listed when available.

District Overview:

The 4^th Michigan House District is located in Southeast Michigan. It includes Hamtramck and a portion of the City of Detroit.

Commentary:

This district has a strong 94% Democratic base, making the primary race the one to watch. In 2016, President Donald Trump received only 4.91% of the vote and Governor Gretchen Whitmer received 94.51% of the vote in 2018.

The seat was represented by Representative Isaac Robinson prior to his passing in March. Special election primary and general elections will be held for the remainder of his term, ending December 31, 2020. Both elections coincide with the regular election dates for the year. Primary and general elections will also be held for the new term, beginning January 1, 2021.

Special Election Democratic Candidates (Term ending December 31, 2020):

• • Shahab Ahmed – Former Hamtramck City Councilman, small business owner
  • Abraham Aiyash – Michigan United statewide training political leadership director
  • Anthony Ali – Works for the app, Handy Pro
  • Christopher Collins
  • Delorean Holmes – Wayne County Port Authority Deputy Director, former chief of staff in the Michigan Senate
  • Michele Oberholtzer – United Community Housing Coalition Director of tax foreclosure prevention
  • Tonya Myers Phillips – Attorney, former Detroit City Charter Commissioner
  • Gregory Reyner
  • Abraham Shaw – Mechanic, consulting company owner
  • Tawanna Simpson – Community organizer, former member of the Detroit Public School Board
  • Sigmunt John Szczepkowski, Jr

Special Election Republican Candidate (Term ending December 31, 2020):

• • None

Democratic Candidates (Term beginning January 1, 2021):

• • Shahab Ahmed – Former Hamtramck City Councilman, small business owner
  • Abraham Aiyash – Michigan United statewide training political leadership director
  • Anthony Ali – Works for the app, Handy Pro
  • Christopher Collins
  • Delorean Holmes – Wayne County Port Authority Deputy Director, former chief of staff in the Michigan Senate
  • Frazier Kimpson – Retired teacher, former District 15 Democratic Party chair, former deputy director of Detroit’s Municipal Parking Department
  • Darwood Navarro – Data analyst for Detroit’s demolition department
  • Michele Oberholtzer – United Community Housing Coalition Director of tax foreclosure prevention
  • Tonya Myers Phillips – Attorney, former Detroit City Charter Commissioner
  • Gregory Reyner
  • Abraham Shaw – Mechanic, consulting company owner
  • Tawanna Simpson – Community organizer, former member of the Detroit Public School Board
  • Sigmunt John Szczepkowski, Jr

Republicans Candidates (Term beginning January 1, 2021):

• • Howard Wethington

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