Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones Running To Unseat Rep. Tlaib

Michigan’s state and local primary election is Aug. 4.

There’s still time to vote by mail for the Aug. 4th election. Find out how.

Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson is committed to highlighting candidates on the ballot.

In Wayne County, the race to represent the 13th Congressional District is heating up with both candidates having held the seat recently. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has become a national household name since winning the seat two years ago, known as being an outspoken opponent of President Donald Trump as part of “the Squad” in Congress.

Before Tlaib was sworn into that seat Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones had just finished serving out the remainder of former Congressman John Conyers’ term after his resignation, serving just five weeks on Capitol Hill before returning to her role on city council. 

Interview: Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones

Jones is running against incumbent Rashida Tlaib who will join Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson to discuss her campaign later this month. 

“I feel like I am the better candidate in this race because of my legislation experience. I connect with the people, I represent all people.” — Brenda Jones

Candidate Brief

Key Experience: Jones has been on the Detroit City Council since 2005. She has served in the role of City Council President since 2014. Jones represented the 13^th congressional district for five weeks, finishing out John Conyers term. 

Major Endorsements: Coleman A. Young II, Ian Conyers, Shanelle Jackson, City of Westland Mayor William R. Wild, City of Highland Park Mayor Hubert Yopp 

Issues 

• Poverty: Jones says that the 13^th district is the third poorest in the country and that not enough is being done to secure the resources necessary for its constituents. “You have to be able to work with people to bring home the resources,” says Jones of her challenger.
• Accessibility: Though Jones is not a resident of the 13^th district, she says her availability to constituents is what matters. “The 13th Congressional District constituents are the ones who are telling me they are not getting the help they need from their member of Congress,” says Jones.
• Representation and race: On the calls for the 13^th district to be represented by an African American congressperson, Jones says not only does she represent African Americans, she also represents all people and works with everyone to get things done. “No one has to tell me how to be Black, and you have a district that is over 60 percent African Americans. I walk in the same shoes that African Americans walk in, but I represent all people,” says Jones.