Donavan McKinney, a congressional candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has won the Democratic primary in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, unseating incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar.

McKinney’s Campaign Focus

McKinney’s campaign focused on issues such as affordability, environmental and climate justice, and getting money out of politics. He also targeted Thanedar’s personal wealth, arguing that the businessman wasn’t representative of his district’s lived experience.

Thanedar, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, had broken with the DSA on several critical areas, including his support for Israel. In October 2023, Thanedar ended his membership with the DSA over his support for Israel, stating that he could no longer associate with an organization unwilling to call out terrorism in all its forms.

DSA’s Growing Influence

McKinney’s victory is part of a larger trend of DSA-backed candidates expanding their influence within the Democratic Party. Other socialist candidates, such as Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York and Melat Kiros in Colorado, have also won primary elections, unseating incumbent Democrats.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.