Primary Election Overview: 9th District

Liz Gullett

Jul 02, 2020

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 9^th House District is located in Wayne County and includes portions of Dearborn and Detroit.

Commentary

This district has a strong 82% Democratic base, making the primary race the key to who will hold this seat next term. Representative Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) is running for a second term in office. During her first term in the House she is serving on the House Financial Services Committee, the House Tax Policy Committee, and the House Select Committee on Reducing Car Insurance Rates. Rep. Whitsett, who has recovered from COVID-19, has been a fan of President Trump’s pandemic responses and critical of the Governor’s. This will make for very interesting campaign material and rhetoric.

In 2016, President Trump only received 4.49% of the vote, while Governor Whitmer received 95.36% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic Candidates:

- Marc Cummings
- Nicole Elcock – Data entry clerk
- Roslyn Ogburn – Housing organizer, block club president
- Representative Karen Whitsett – State Representative, small business owner

Republican Candidate:

- James Stephens – Division manager at a construction machinery and equipment company

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