Michigan U.S. House District 12 Candidates
Michigan U.S. House District 12 Candidates
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib faces no Democratic challenger in the Aug. 6 primary to represent District 12, Detroit, in the U.S. Congress. In the Nov. 5 General Election, she will be up against the winner of the Republican contest, James D. Hooper or Linda Sawyer.
Rashida Tlaib, Democrat
Tlaib was elected to the U.S. House in 2018, emerging from a crowded Democratic primary field in the solidly blue district. She is a member of “The Squad,” the name for the group of representatives from the left flank of the Democratic Party. Tlaib became the first Muslim woman to serve in the Michigan Legislature in 2008 and is currently the only Palestinian American member of Congress. This year she supported a campaign to vote “uncommitted” in the Democratic Party to pressure President Joe Biden to support a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
James D. Hooper, Republican
James Hooper describes himself as “Unapologetically a Conservative Christian Believer” who opposes abortion, believes the 2020 election “was hijacked” despite post-election reviews that have upheld the results and calls the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution establishing the right to bear arms “the necessary bulwark with which all our other Rights are guaranteed,” according to his campaign website. He previously worked abroad with Samaritan’s Purse – an evangelical Christian humanitarian organization – doing missionary work in Liberia before returning home to take care of his mother who had Alzheimer’s before passing away, his website states.
Linda Sawyer, Republican
Sawyer describes herself as “A Trump Policy Supporting Gun-Carrying Evangelical” on her campaign website. She has previously worked as a paramedic in Redford Township and an emergency department nurse in Livonia, according to her site. If elected, she lists decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level, bringing an outdoor pool to a local park and border security among her top priorities. She said she also wants to add Historic Fort Wayne to the national parks system. Her campaign marks her third congressional bid.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan U.S. House District 12 Candidates