Christina Hines kicked off a bid for Congress, touchdown Democrats a aggressive recruit in a purple district within the Detroit suburbs.
“We need people in Washington that we can trust, and I spent my whole life trying to fight for others and to fight for my community, and I’m hoping that I can be a trustworthy person in Congress,” mentioned Hines, a former particular victims’ prosecutor.
She’d been impressed to run after seeing the information that President Donald Trump issued an govt order to wind down the Division of Schooling.
“My husband and I looked at each other like, ‘yeah, this is not a time to wait. This is not a time to be comfortable,’“ she recalled. “We need a fighter in Congress. And I’ve spent my whole career fighting for people, and I need to step up. We need a fighter here in Michigan’s tent.”
The district, which incorporates elements of the northern Detroit suburbs in Oakland and Macomb counties, has trended towards Republicans in recent times. Nonetheless, Democrats imagine this district could possibly be flippable with incumbent Rep. John James (R-Mich.) probably vacating it for a gubernatorial bid subsequent 12 months to exchange term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat. James received the seat in 2022 by half a share level and by a handier margin in 2024.
Notably, she’s operating with the endorsement of former decide and lawyer Carl Marlinga, who’s run in opposition to James the previous two cycles. He’d initially made strikes towards a bid this cycle, sparking non-public considerations amongst some Democrats that his previous baggage may tank their possibilities within the district.
However he’s not operating this time and gave his backing to her marketing campaign in an announcement: “Christina is the new generational leader we need in Washington to give our country a fresh start. She is a fighter who knows every corner of Macomb and the people who live here.”
Hines may declare a centrist lane and mentioned, “I’m not particularly far on either side of the spectrum.” She she’d been in contact with the Democratic Congressional Marketing campaign Committee about operating and was “not expecting a very contested primary.”
Nonetheless, she’s not the one Democrat operating. Military veteran Alex Hawkins has already launched a marketing campaign, and former Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), who’d represented elements of the district earlier than redistricting, has flirted with a comeback bid for the seat or different elected workplaces in Michigan.