Kristen McDonald Rivet - Meet the Freshmen

Kristen McDonald Rivet

Kristen McDonald Rivet
PARTY:
Democratic
CHAMBER:
House
STATE:
DISTRICT:
8

REPLACING:

Dan Kildee (D) [i]

WORK HISTORY:

Michigan Legislature (Communications Director); Michigan Department of Human Services (Senior Policy Advisor); Michigan Department of Education (Chief of Staff); The Skillman Foundation (Program Director, VP); Annie E. Casey Foundation (Fellow); Greater Midland, Inc (President and CEO); Bay City, Michigan (City Commissioner); Michigan Future Inc (Vice President); Michigan State Senate (Member, District 35) [ii]

EDUCATION:

BA, Michigan State University; MPA, University of Michigan – Flint [iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Lowering Costs & Creating Opportunity; Creating God Jobs in Mid-Michigan; Protecting Abortion Rights; Making Healthcare Accessible & Affordable; Fighting for Seniors & Protecting Social Security; Keeping Mid-Michigan Families Safe; Supporting Michigan Farmers; Protecting Our Environment & Great Lakes; Common-Sense Immigration Reform; Ensuring Quality Education for Every Child; Safeguarding Our Freedoms & Improving Democracy [iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Endorsed by EMILY’s List and Planned Parenthood, Rivet opposed the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and promised to “always stand up for reproductive rights.” She was in favor of repealing Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban and protecting the use of IVF. Her campaign promised to “stand up to anybody seeking to restrict reproductive freedom and will not stop fighting until we pass federal legislation restoring Roe v. Wade as the law of our nation once again.” [v]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Of the belief that the current U.S. immigration system is “broken,” Rivet has called for working on a bipartisan basis to “secure a tough […] comprehensive immigration reform package.” She has stated that this would include “robust enforcement at the southern border, cracking down on drug and sex traffickers, fixing the legal immigration processes, and an earned pathway to citizenship for those here who want to work hard, pay taxes, and follow our laws.” [vi]

ECONOMY & JOBS:

According to her campaign website, Rivet introduced state legislation to lower housing and prescription drug costs, as well as to “address the growing childcare crisis in Michigan.” In Congress, she pledged to “take on the corporate price gouging that drives up the price of groceries and gas.” A supporter of labor unions, she is in favor of ending “Right to Work” and restoring “prevailing wage.” She also calls for bringing supply chains back to the U.S. and expanding job training and apprenticeship programs. [vii] [viii]

TAXES:

During the campaign, Rivet touted that, as a member of the state Senate, she “led the charge to pass the largest tax cut for working families, and helped repeal Michigan’s burdensome pension and retirement tax.” She has promised to expand the Child Tax Credit and cut taxes for “working families while making big corporations and the uber wealthy pay their fair share.” [ix]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

As a member of the state Senate, Rivet said she helped increase funding “to put more law enforcement officers on our streets and for training and retention of our law enforcement officers.” In Congress, she pledged to “continue to stand with law enforcement and fight to make sure our police departments have the resources they need to keep Mid-Michigan communities safe,”including obtaining federal grants to “put more cops on the beat, increase training opportunities, and secure the right tools to help law enforcement officials do their jobs.” [x]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

According to her campaign website, as a member of the Michigan Senate, Rivet “helped pass ambitious clean energy legislation, prioritizing practical solutions focused on addressing climate change, attracting high-paying energy sector jobs, and protecting families’ pocketbooks.” She also touted that she helped allocate funding “to replace lead pipes and passed legislation to make sure kids have clean drinking water at school and in childcare centers.” As a Member of Congress, Rivet said she will seek to protect the Great Lakes and Saginaw Bay and ensure access to clean drinking water. [xi]

FOREIGN POLICY:

On the anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel, Rivet called on Hamas, Israel, and “partners” to negotiate an exchange for the hostages, institute a ceasefire, and “surge humanitarian aid to those suffering.” [xii] She supports U.S. funding to aid Ukraine in its war against Russia. [xiii]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Rivet supports protecting Social Security “against extremists looking to cut or privatize it.” She has also said that, as a Member of Congress, she will “take on the big drug companies” to cap insulin prices to $35 per month and permit Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. [xiv] She is also in favor of expanding the Affordable Care Act and working with hospital systems to “ensure they get the federal resources they need to provide quality, timely care for all of our residents.” [xv]

DEMOCRACY:

During the campaign, Rivet said she will “stand up to ensure that every American citizen has equal power in our democracy and the freedom to live as their true, authentic self,” opposing current campaign financing and gerrymandering. She said she was in favor of passing “reforms to campaign financing, gerrymandering, and lobbying” and ensuring that Americans can vote securely “without discrimination.” [xvi]

SOCIAL ISSUES:

As a member of the Michigan Senate, Rivet said she was proud to help expand the Elliott Larsen Act, which she said would “protect LGBTQ+ Michiganders from discrimination.” [xvii]


[i] DeJanay Booth-Singleton, “Kristen McDonald Rivet wins Michigan's open 8th Congressional District seat, CBS News projects,” CBS News, November 6, 2024, available at https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/kristen-mcdonald-rivet-paul-junge-michigan-8th-district-results/.

[ii] Kristen McDonald LinkedIn, accessed November 14, 2024, available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-mcdonald-2579675/.

[iii] Kristen McDonald LinkedIn, accessed November 14, 2024, available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-mcdonald-2579675/.

[iv] “My Priorities,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priorities/.

[v] “Protecting Abortion Rights,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/protecting-abortion-rights/.

[vi] “Common-Sense Immigration Reform, Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/common-sense-immigration-reform/.

[vii] “Lowering Costs & Creating Opportunity,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/lowering-costs/.

[viii] “Creating Good Jobs in Mid-Michigan,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/creating-good-jobs-in-mid-michigan/.

[ix] “Lowering Costs & Creating Opportunity,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/lowering-costs/.

[x] “Keeping Mid-Michigan Families Safe,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/keeping-mid-michigan-families-safe/.

[xi] “Protecting Our Environment & Great Lakes,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/protecting-our-environment-great-lakes/.

[xii] Kristen McDonald Rivet X, October 7, 2024, available at https://x.com/McdonaldRivet/status/1843308467882226156.

[xiii] Press Release, “McDonald-Rivet says lowering the cost of living is her focus in run for Congress,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, July 30, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/mcdonald-rivet-says-lowering-the-cost-of-living-is-her-focus-in-run-for-congress/.

[xiv] “Lowering Costs & Creating Opportunity,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/lowering-costs/.

[xv] “Making Healthcare Accessible & Affordable,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/making-healthcare-accessible-affordable/.

[xvi] “Safeguarding Our Freedoms & Improving Democracy,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/safeguarding-our-freedoms-improving-democracy/.

[xvii] “Safeguarding Our Freedoms & Improving Democracy,” Kristen McDonald Rivet for Congress, accessed November 8, 2024, available at https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/priority/safeguarding-our-freedoms-improving-democracy/.

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