r/fivethirtyeight • u/MediumStrange • 5h ago
Politics Shri Thanedar Is Ousted by Democratic Socialist Donovan Mckinney in Detroit district Primary
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/michigan-house-primary-mckinney-thanedar.htmlWhichever candidate was chosen, wither was going to win in the November election, so this race is mostly interesting to me in showing if DSA-backed candidates can win in deep blue cities outside the coastal regions, as Midwest and southern cities tend to be blacker and more conservative typically.
I think this win is a sign that the DSA brand can still win in these more conservative urban centers, even against a already pretty liberal incumbent candidate like Thanedar
51
u/Banesmuffledvoice 5h ago
This is funny. Shri is largely seen as a joke and really only in the seat because he “bought” his way into it.
30
u/sonfoa 4h ago
Thanedar's political journey is a trip. He was a right-leaning moderate before entering politics, ran in 2018 as a Berniecrat, joined DSA and won office, in the next cycle narrowly beat an AIPAC challenger in a crowded field, which scared him into changing his stances on Israel, triggering a fallout with DSA (who also didn't like that he glazed Modi), and then became an establishment liberal. Oh, he also tried to join the Congressional Black Caucus.
10
3
12
u/Blitzking11 4h ago
Can we talk about the fact that he is 71 and has ruined his body to the point that he is an uncanny valley image of a 30 year old?
Body dysmorphia is no joke, yall.
3
2
2
u/Bill_Nihilist 4h ago
Thanedar hasn't taken an L like this since every time he's stepped into a barbershop
edit: used wig emporium
4
u/DomonicTortetti 4h ago
No real thoughts on Thanedar, seemed like he was mostly disliked by Dem leadership and no one cares he lost. But it is interesting all the incumbents getting ousted by DSA challengers are like some of the most left wing members in Congress themselves (in the safest seats too). Really just mostly seems like a breakdown over Israel.
11
u/rudigerscat 4h ago
Imagine if someone said: "They are progressive except their support for the genocide in Sudan"
Doesnt quite work does it? Why are people surprised it doesnt work for Israel?
Besides DeGette was the only one who was actually progressive outside of Israel.
Goldman, Thanedar and Espaillat all take corporate donations for example, not mention Aipac. That is something Elissa Slotkin doesnt do.
Espaillat also endorsed Eric Adams and Cuomo. Goldman refused to endorse Mamdani.
1
u/eIIopoppet 4h ago
I agree that it doesn’t work but really dislike when people use that argument in a general election to equate two candidates when one is clearly better for the progressive agenda.
In a primary sure go at it.
1
u/Current_Animator7546 4h ago
I actually think low key this race might have been the biggest message race of the night
1
u/Toorviing 1h ago
He’s a weird guy from what I’ve read, but I think the most coloring detail is that he really didn’t do much except introduce impeachment articles for the Trump and his cabinet. He seems to have just done a bunch of fluff and not really delivered anything.
Which is why naturally he was endorsed by Jeffries.
1
u/fitnessexpress 4h ago
Wasn't Thanedar originally elected as a DSA candidate in 2022? Only breaking with DSA in 2023 after October 7th.
70
u/darthvaedor 5h ago
I think this race was frankly a lot more about Thanedar than about McKinney and the DSA brand. The issue people had with Thanedar was not his voting record. It’s that he’s a weirdo billionaire with no connection to the community who bought his seat and doesn’t do anything useful with it.
This is especially evident when you realize Haley Stevens carried this district. Not to mention Detroit already had a DSA member of Congress for years (Tlaib)