Democrat Rep. Shri Thanedar Defeated By Anti-Establishment Challenger In Deep-Blue District

August 05, 2026 10:04 AM ET Democratic Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney defeated Democratic Michigan Rep. Shri Thanedar, securing another win for the Democrats’ anti-establishment wing. McKinney is among several anti-establishment candidates who defeated incumbents backed by the party’s establishment in the 2026 election cycle. The further-left candidate received endorsements from independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley. McKinney would represent Michigan’s 13th district, a deep-blue, heavily black-majority district that includes the city of Detroit and other parts of Wayne County, Michigan’s most populous county. The Congressional Black Caucus, including Omar and Nevada Rep. Steve