Indian American Shri Thanedar Wins Dem Primary in MI; Very Likely to Become Congressman in November

India-West News Desk

DETROIT, MI – “I am dedicated to racial, social and economic equity and justice for all. That means ensuring all Michiganders have access to early-childhood education, equitably funded K-12 schools and affordable healthcare.” With that stated platform, MI State Rep. Shri Thanedar triumphed in the Democratic primary for the 13^th Congressional District on August 3.

The Associated Press called the race that is centered around Detroit. Twitter and pols were quick to point out that for the first time since 1955, the city is likely to not have an African American representative. The seat is widely considered to be a safe Democratic one.  

Thanedar, 67, a self-made millionaire has been a state legislator for two years. He poured into the campaign to defeat State Rep. Adam Hollier and attorney Portia Roberson. In November, he will face Republican Martell Bivings, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary.

“This race was not about me. Michigan’s 13th Congressional District is one of the poorest in the country and I will fight for economic and racial justice in Congress,” Thanedar told the media. “We must continue the fight against the special interests that seek to divide us and prevent us from achieving the basic rights that we all deserve. We have a lot of work in front of us, and you can count on me to continue fighting for our communities.”

Thanedar grew up in a lower-income family in Belgaum, Karnataka. When his father retired, the 14-year-old Thanedar to overcome poverty worked odd jobs to support his family of eight. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at 18 and then attended a masters program at University of Bombay. He came to the US in 1979 and got his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Akron. He is a serial entrepreneur and has many small businesses, making his fortune in the pharmaceutical industry.

He is married to Shashi, who he told the Detroit Free Press, “is a hero to me; she came to a very foreign country to a family that was broken and hurting. She came in and made it a home.” His first wife, with who he has two sons, died of drug overdose.