Detroit Evening Report: Detroit’s nearly 70-year streak of Black representation in Congress is about to end
Listen to the latest episode of the Detroit Evening Report podcast.
Shri Thanedar is set to begin his new job this week once he’s sworn in as the Congressman for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.
Listen and Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report
NPR | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
The Detroit Democrat officially won the position in November after beating several challengers in the August primary election. The beginning of Thanedar’s tenure means the end of nearly 70 years of Detroit having African American representation in Congress.
Charles Diggs became Detroit’s first Black Congressman in 1955.
Michigan’s 12th Congressional District — the second seat representing Detroit in Congress — is filled by Arab-American Rashida Tlaib, who won her reelection bid last November.
The swearing in of Thanedar and other House representatives is currently delayed due to Republican Kevin McCarthy unable to win the 218 votes needed to become Speaker of the House. McCarthy failed to win the title after three rounds of voting as of late Tuesday afternoon.
The House cannot conduct any other business until a Speaker is named.
Other headlines for Jan. 3, 2023:
- Whitmer to deliver State of the State address Jan. 25
- Detroit public schools, Michigan Department of Education aim to raise students’ performances
- Noose made of paper towel found in Grosse Pointe Panera restroom
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
