Taking on corporate Democrats to deliver for Michiganders 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 27, 2026

CONTACT: Branden Snyder 313-492-7696

WORKING FAMILIES PARTY ENDORSES DONAVAN MCKINNEY, WILLIAM LAWRENCE, REP. RASHIDA TLAIB IN MICHIGAN CONGRESSIONAL RACES 

Taking on corporate Democrats to deliver for Michiganders 

DETROIT – The Working Families Party today endorsed Donavan McKinney for Democratic nomination for the 13th Congressional District (Detroit) and William Lawrence for the Democratic nomination in the 7th District (Lansing). The Party also endorsed working families champion Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) at a press conference in Detroit.  

Working Families Party is building on the successful elections of Denzel McCampbell and Gabriela Santiago-Romero to the Detroit City Council, and now is aiming to oust sitting members of Congress who are selling out their constituents to Trump and industry, and replace them with leaders who put working people first.

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of the Working Families Party,” said Rep. Rashida Tlaib. “Since I entered office in 2019, WFP has championed numerous efforts to make our government work for everyday people rather than for corporations and billionaires. In this affordability crisis, I will continue advocating alongside WFP to elevate the working-class voices of the Tenacious 12th, fighting for the promise of freedom, equality, and dignity for all.”

“Working Families Party is building a cohort of working class champions across the state who will be champions for working people, not the wealthy and well-connected,” said Branden Snyder, state director of the Working Families Party in Michigan. “Being a Working Families Party candidate isn’t just a slogan – it’s an identity and tells voters that these candidates aren’t in the race for power or to carry water for the status quo. They’re about fighting to unrig the system for working folks.”

“We’re building a new force in politics here in Michigan. It’s a force powered by everyday people, organized labor, and community organizations across the state,” said Maurice Mitchell, Working Families Party’s National Director at the press conference. Working people in every part of Michigan are struggling to afford the basics. At the same time, big corporations and the politicians they elect are profiting off our health and our labor. The Working Families Party is committed to electing people who will fight for the working class, and we’re proud to endorse this group of federal candidates in Michigan.”   

Currently the State Representative for Michigan’s 11th district, Donavan McKinney is running to challenge Rep. Shri Thanedar, a multi-millionaire who bought himself a seat in the Michigan State House and now Congress.Thanedar has developed a reputation for being out of touch with his district and a flip-flopper on key issues, as well as alienating important constituencies.

“I am honored to have the endorsement of the Working Families Party. Our campaign has always been by the people, for the people, and we are so proud to have WFP join our movement,” said Donavan McKinney. “Together we will fight to get corporate money out of our politics and return the power to where it belongs: with the people.”

William Lawrence is a Working Families Party member and a first-time candidate with a deep background in organizing. If elected in the primary, he will face Tom Barrett, a first-time Republican legislator who’s been fighting the culture war in DC instead of fighting for the people of his district.

“I’ve been a proud dues-paying member of the Working Families Party for years, and now I’m honored to earn the party’s endorsement,” said William Lawrence. “Across the nation, WFP candidates are winning elections by fighting for the many, not the billionaire few. Now more than ever, we need elected officials who put people and the planet over corporate profits.”

Working Families Party is committed to a significant organizing effort. The Party and partners will knock doors, engage voters face-to-face, and communicate directly with communities throughout the district, building the grassroots infrastructure needed not only to win on Election Day, but to govern effectively afterward.. 

Nationally, the Working Families Party has endorsed Mai Vang, who is challenging 20-year incumbent Doris Matsui in CA-7; Brad Lander, who is challenging Rep. Dan Goldman in NY-10; Nida Allam, who is challenging Rep. Valerie Foushee in NC-4; and Randy Villegas, who is running in the Republican held CA-22.

Just a few weeks ago, another WFP-endorsed candidate and former director of the New Jersey Working Families Party, Analilia Mejia, won the Democratic primary for the special election to represent NJ-11 in Congress for the remainder of this term.

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