The candidates running in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District
Early indicators point to a closely contested race between Republicans and Democrats, as a result of newly redrawn 10th Congressional District.
When voters in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District head to polling places this August, they’ll have a chance to nominate a Republican or Democrat who they’d like to see running for Congress in November.
Republican Lisa McClain currently represents Michigan’s 10th District. However, as a result of newly drawn district lines, McClain will be seeking reelection in the Michigan’s 9th District — leaving no incumbent candidate in the 10th District race.
“I don’t think it is a matter of Republican or Democrat. This is the right person at the right time at the right moment.” — Angela Rogensues (D)
Listen: The candidates running for Congress in Michigan’s 10th District.
Democrats
Angela Rogensues, who currently serves on the Warren City Council, is one of five liberals seeking the Democratic party nomination. She says she expects the newly drawn 10th district lines to result in a close race this November.
“I don’t think it is a matter of Republican or Democrat,” says Rogensues. “This is the right person at the right time at the right moment.”
Rogensues says key issues for her also include supply chain issues and women’s reproductive rights.
“I also care a lot about healthcare and ensuring folks don’t go broke as a result of getting sick,” she continues, “and I also care a lot about folks and what they’re dealing with as far as the economy is concerned.”
“If we don’t elect Democrats, you’re talking about women dying.” — Huwaida Arraf (D)
And with the recent overturning of Roe verses Wade, the three women vying to represent the Democratic nomination all name woman’s reproductive rights as a key issue. That includes candidate and civil rights attorney, Huwaida Arraf.
“If we don’t elect Democrats,” says Arraf, “you’re talking about women dying, because we need to codify Roe v. Wade – period. Women’s health is on the line.”
She’s critical of career politicians and the influence of special interest groups in Washington.
“We have to be sending people to make laws that care about people’s rights,” Arraf says. “And are committed to protecting and expanding our rights.”
“This is not the old ages anymore where we need to go and give our responses to a man in hopes that he will properly interpret them.” — Rhonda Powell (D)
Rhonda Powell is also seeking the liberal nomination. She says woman’s issue in the U.S. are about more than just abortion.
“I’m a self-proclaimed ‘shevanist,’” says Powell. “So I’m all about pay equity and unfortunately that’s still an issue. We still have women that make less than men doing the same job.”
Powell says she does think the time is right to elect more women to Congress.
“Because it’s clear we need to speak for ourselves as women,” she says. “This is not the old ages anymore where we need to go and give our responses to a man in hopes that he will properly interpret them.”
“Somebody’s going to be manufacturing these products for the future, and again, it should be the United States.” — Carl Marlinga (D)
Carl Marlinga has served as a probate court judge in Oakland County since 2013 and is seeking the Democratic nomination. He says he sees room for Michigan to grow in the manufacturing space.
“I think that we can do that by combining the need the world has for good, clean environmental products to lessen our dependence upon fossil fuels,” Marlinga says.
Marlinga highlights the production of fast charging stations for electric vehicles as a place Michigan could insert itself as a global leader.
“Somebody’s going to be manufacturing these products for the future, and again, it should be the United States.”
“I know that the people of this district really need good strong experienced representation and, ultimately, I just felt that I was the person.” — Henry Yanez (D)
Another Democrat in the running is Henry Yanez, a former Michigan State House representative who has run for Congress in the past. He lost a 10th District race to Candice Miller in 2010.
Yanez says, “I know that the people of this district really need good strong experienced representation, and ultimately, I just felt that I was the person that could do that for my neighbors and for my fellow citizens.”
Yanez feels his experience in politics would help him accomplish things Washington.
“That’s one of the things that I always felt was a strong point of mine,” Yanez states. “Being able to go on the other side of the aisle and have conversations with my Republican colleagues.”
Republicans
On the other side of the aisle, two Republican hopefuls are vying for the GOP’s 10th Congressional District nomination.
The biggest name of which is John James, a political outsider who challenged for Debbie Stabenow’s U.S. Senate seat in 2018 and Gary Peter’s Senate seat in 2020 – losing both times.
Opponents have been critical of James for not living in the 10th District, despite running to represent it. John James did not answer our interview request by the deadline for this story.
The other conservative candidate on the August ballot is Tony Marcinkewciz.
“We’ve deindustrialized our economy to such an extent that fuel has an outsized effect because our logistical network is really what gets products places.” — Tony Marcinkewciz (R)
Marcinkewciz says his professional experience as a software engineer would help him tackle logistical issues. He says he also views improving education as a key issue.
“The Department of Education has done a very large injustice to the people here,” Marcinkewciz claims. “School of choice is going to be something that’s an integral part in figuring out how to wheel back education to the most local level.”
Photo Credit: Laura Herberg, WDET
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