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| Rashida Tlaib exults in her win in Michigan's Primary elections. |
MICHIGAN'S ASIAN AMERICANS, no longer content to sitting on the sidelines, joined the political fray by running for state and Congressional offices.
Abdul El-Sayed and Shri Thanedar lost their bids to gain the Democratic nomination for Michigan governor but a Muslim American woman may have stolen the spotlight in Michigan's primary election Tuesday, Aug. 7.
State Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American, won the Democratic nomination in the 13th Congressional District.
Tlaib has no Republican or third-party opposition for November almost guaranteeing that she will make history by becoming the first Muslim woman elected to the U.S. Congress. However, there may still be write-in opponents.
"The 13th District wanted a fighter and they're getting one," she tweeted this morning. "I am so humbled by the trust working families have put in my pledge to take on the corporate bullies and make policy that allows us all to thrive. I will not let you down."
"The 13th District wanted a fighter and they're getting one," she tweeted this morning. "I am so humbled by the trust working families have put in my pledge to take on the corporate bullies and make policy that allows us all to thrive. I will not let you down."
Like many Democratic candidates, Tlaib has been critical of Donald Trump and his regressive policies, referring to his election as the "bat signal" that provoked many progressive women to run for office.
Two years ago, she was arrested for disrupting a Trump speech in downtown Detroit, where she shouted at him that "our kids deserve better" and encouraged him to read the Constitution. She ran on a decidely left platform and was backed by the progressive Democratic Socialists of America, Our Revolution and Justice Democrats.
"She may be the first Muslim congresswoman, but she just opened the door for millions of Rashidas to follow. As a Muslim and Arab father of a 9-month-old baby girl, I've never felt more hopeful about my daughter's future," said Zaki Barzinji, the White House liaison to American Muslims under former President Barack Obama.
Gretchen Whitmer easily won the the Democrats' gubernatorial primary over her two rivals.
Last minute campaigning with Sen. Bernie Sanders and rising star Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez helped El-Sayed surge past Indian American millionaire Thanedar, who faded down the stretch despite personal donations to his campaign of millions of dollars.
About two-hours after the polls closed Tuesday night, El-Sayed, whose parents are from Egypt, addressed his supporters whose cheers turned to tears when he conceded.
"I like to think that even though I'm not going to get the opportunity to serve, now we've ignited a belief of what's possible in young people ," he said.
He pledged to support Whitmir's campaign in November against Republican Bill Schuette, Michigan's Attorney General.
In the 8th Congressional District Indian American businessman Lokesh Kumar failed to upset incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Bishop.
Fayrouz Saad, a Lebanese American and Indian American Suneel Gupta ran out of the running for the Democratic nomination for Congressional District 11. Two first-time candidates, former Obama administration official Haley Stevens will represent the Democrats against Republican Lena Epstein.
At the state level, Padma Kuppa, an Indian American, was unopposed in the Democratic primary for State House District 41. Doug Tietz eked out a win in a tight contest for the Repubican nomination.
Indian American Aditi Bagchi ran for the State House from District 38, and made a good showing garnering 34 percent of the vote, but eventually lost to Kelly Breen (49 percent).
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