‘Trifecta’
seats this year if they prevail in April.
Their elections are significant because their victories would restore the Dems’ 5654 House majority and maintain what the DLCC calls the “Michigan trifecta: Democratic majorities in both chambers and in the governor’s seat.”
One focus of the pair if they are elected will be helping protect abortion rights, DLCC officials said in the release.
“The DLCC is thrilled to announce our first 2024 Michigan Spotlight candidates — Mai Xiong and Peter Herzberg — whose races will make or break the Democratic
majority in the Michigan House,” DLCC President Heather Williams said in a written statement. “Winning both special elections will ensure Michigan Democrats can continue to move the state forward and protect fundamental freedoms, which is why the DLCC is all hands on deck to support Mai and Peter. These special elections show how important single legislative elections can be for determining a majority and the DLCC is leaving nothing to chance.
“All eyes should be on Michigan on April 16th as we defend our hard-fought Democratic majority and gear up for competitive races across the country in November.”
The trifecta was established in 2022, and the state Dems had a banner year of accomplishments in 2023, passing gun safety legislation
and “making health care more accessible,” according to the DLCC.
The Michigan legislature passed significant abortion protections last year.
“Maintaining a trifecta in Michigan could come down to a single seat in the House and these close margins show how important single legislative seats can be for determining a majority,” the DLCC added.
The directors of the Michigan Victory Fund will determine how to spend the money, but the DLCC is recommending it go to the Xiong and Herzberg’s races.
Xiong is currently a Macomb County Commissioner and will give up her seat if she defeats Republican opponent engineering professional Ronald Singer, a Warren engineer, and Herzberg, a Westland councilman, will move to Lansing if he defeats GOP foe Josh Powell of Westland.
Both Herzberg and Xiong were elected to seats vacated due to their predecessors winning mayoral
seats last November.
Kevin Coleman became the Westland mayor and Lori Stone won the Warren mayoral post.
Xiong, the daughter of Hmong refugees from Laos, is running to contribute to “the wave of progress being made in Michigan on gun safety and reproductive freedom,” the DLCC says. Herzberg “has been instrumental in expanding voting access in his community,” it says.
Herzberg would represent the 25th District, which includes the cities of Wayne and Westland as well as a sliver of Dearborn Heights and Xiong would represent the 13th District, which includes a large chunk of Warren and a small part of Detroit.
The 13th District’s boundaries would change slightly under a new districts map submitted by the Michigan Boundary Commission by a federal judicial order and is under review for potential approval by a three-judge panel.