MI-13: Shri Thanedar (D)

REPLACING:

Rashida Tlaib (D)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

Lycoming Analytical Laboratories (Owner); Azopharma Product Development Group (Chairman / Owner); Chemir Analytical Services (Chief Executive Officer / Owner); Former Michigan Gubernatorial Candidate (2017); Avomeen Analytical Services (Founder); Michigan State House of Representatives (State Representative, District 3)[ii]

EDUCATION:

PhD, The University of Akron; MBA, Fontbonne University[iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Pro Choice; Gun Safety; Voting Rights; Economic Empowerment; Healthcare For All; Criminal Justice Reform; Mental Health; Quality Education; Environmental Justice; Government Reform; Police Brutality; LGBTQX Justice; Policy on Israel[iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

On his campaign website, Thanedar describes abortion as health care and calls for it to be protected at both the state and federal level. He supports codifying Roe v. Wade, “even if we have to end the filibuster to do so."[v] Thanedar opposed a controversial 2021 Texas law that he said, “effectively banned abortion, taking away a woman's right to control her own body.” In September 2021, he signed on to an amicus brief to the Supreme Court calling for it to uphold Roe v. Wade.[vi] [vii]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

Thanedar supports raising the minimum wage, the PRO Act, investing in infrastructure and sustainable energy, and equal pay for equal work.[viii]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Thanedar supports Medicare-for-All, but in the interim, suggests Medicare cover dental care, gradually lower its eligibility age, and be granted the ability to negotiate prescription drug prices.[ix]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

After a June 2018 Michigan gubernatorial debate, Thanedar said he supported the concept of sanctuary cities, but that he did not want immigrant children to be worried about being separated from their parents (both while crossing the border and while living in Michigan). He also said, “One of the reasons we are a great country is because of how welcoming we are to immigrants […] Michigan gave me many breaks so I could achieve my American dream.”[x]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Describing the criminal justice system as “broken” and “systematically racist,” Thanedar advocates for ending the war on drugs and banning for-profit prisons. He also calls for demilitarizing the police, ending qualified immunity, changing the standard of force, improving training and technology, and increasing oversight of police departments.[xi] In June 2021, Thanedar was among a group of Michigan House Democrats who introduced the “Justice for All” 16-bill police reform package.[xii]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

Thanedar supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act as well as the Freedom to Vote Act, while decrying “extreme efforts to disenfranchise voters and minimize the voices of historically marginalized communities via partisan gerrymandering.” He has also suggested ending the filibuster.[xiii]

EDUCATION:

Thanedar’s campaign platform includes supporting collective bargaining for teachers, funding pre-k and early education, free public universities for families earning less than $200,000 per year, and banning for-profit charter schools.[xiv] In June 2021, he voted in favor of the K-12 budget for 2021-2022 (HB 4411), which was supported by the Michigan Education Association (MEA). Overall, the House-passed bill allocated $16.74 billion for Michigan schools, which the MEA said was the “largest ever investment in K-12 public schools in Michigan history.”[xv] [xvi]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

On his campaign website, Thanedar describes himself as a “proud champion” of the Green New Deal Pledge, citing the proposal’s provisions for addressing environmental racism, ending government subsidies for oil companies, and stopping new fossil fuel leasing on public lands and waters. He also touts his state legislature vote to shut down the Line 5 pipeline and supports investing in green infrastructure.[xvii]

BIG TECH & DATA PRIVACY:

While he has not outlined a comprehensive platform on Big Tech, Thanedar has suggested support for raising taxes on the CEOs of companies like Amazon and Twitter.[xviii]

GUN SAFETY:

In the most recent legislative session, Thanedar cosponsored a bill that would expand concealed pistol “gun free zones” to include any buildings owned or leased by the state.[xix] During his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, Thanedar said that he supported “common sense gun ownership” but argued, “no guns in schools, no guns in places of worship and absolutely no guns in the hands of domestic abusers.”[xx] On his current campaign website, he calls for requiring background checks on every single gun purchase and transfer, closing the gun show loophole, implementing a “3 day cooling off period” after purchasing a gun, reinstating the assault rifle ban without a sunset clause, and passing red flag laws.[xxi]

FOREIGN POLICY:

On his campaign website, Thanedar calls for the US to continue “strongly” supporting Israel and advocates for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.[xxii] In February, he called on Congress to “act swiftly” to hold Putin and Russia “responsible” as well as provide support to Ukraine and its people.[xxiii] Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, he called China an “evil country” and called on bringing “essential manufacturing jobs” back to the US.[xxiv]