[1]Justice Democrats





Let me introduce myself, John:
I’m Donavan McKinney, and I’m running for Congress in Michigan’s 13th
district to give working-class Detroiters the representation they deserve.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be Justice Democrats’ first
endorsement of the 2026 election cycle. With you on my team, I’m ready to
challenge Detroit’s out-of-touch, self-funded, multimillionaire incumbent
who cozies up to corporate donors — and I’m ready to empower my community
with leadership that actually fights for them, no matter the political
cost.

[ [link removed] ]But before I share more of my story with you, I have to ask: will you
become a founding donor of my grassroots campaign today, and help me show
the country we can beat a millionaire without taking a single cent of
corporate PAC money ourselves?

[ [link removed] ]Image of Donavan McKinney, smiling and with his arms crossed. He is
wearing a blue zippered-up sweatshirt over a white shirt. Blurred in the
background is a basketball court in front of a green field backed by green
houses and trees. The sky is blue.

Born in Detroit and raised by my mother and grandmother, I learned the
importance of community, leadership, and service early on in life. I’m a
proud product of Detroit Public Schools, and proud to be the first in the
family that raised me to become a college graduate.

After receiving my degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, I put
my education into action. I served as a Legislative Director in the
Michigan State House of Representatives and undertook community engagement
work for a local nonprofit called Community Development Advocates of
Detroit (CDAD). I also worked in admissions and helped improve student
life at Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), and spent time
fighting for workers at the largest healthcare union in the state, SEIU
Healthcare Michigan. I care deeply about our students, our unions, and our
working families, who are just trying to get by and create fulfilling
lives they can be proud of.

I also care deeply about climate change and environmental justice. Growing
up in the shadow of Detroit’s smokestacks and factories, I developed a
cough I still have today — a cough my mother and grandmother have too, and
a cough I’m committed to preventing in my two young children. Before I
became a State Rep. – fighting to make our air and water cleaner, among
many other things — I was the National Political Director for Climate
Power, an environmental organization dedicated to helping communities,
leaders, and elected officials alike understand the benefits of investing
in clean energy. And in 2020, I was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer
to serve on Michigan’s first Environmental Justice Council, where I have
advocated for water accessibility and affordability. And as a Detroiter, a
State Rep., and a parent, I’m proud to have helped fund over $600 million
to replace lead pipes in Detroit and its suburbs, because no parent should
have to worry about their children’s drinking water poisoning them.

Since 2023, I’ve had the honor of serving the people of Southeast Michigan
in the Michigan State House. For the last two years as a state
representative, I’ve prioritized increasing access to health care,
ensuring every child in Michigan receives a quality education, improving
the criminal justice system, and securing the rights of unions and
workers.

My life’s work has been about improving the lives of everyday people in
Michigan. It’s about time we had someone in this seat truly committed to
doing the same. As long as there are multimillionaires like Rep. Shri
Thanedar in Congress — who think you can buy a seat, not earn it — the
needs of working-class people in districts like Michigan’s 13th will go
ignored and unmet.

Well, I’m not running because I’m a millionaire. I’m running because I’m
not.

I’m running because this fight — the 99% vs the 1% — is so much bigger
than one person or one office. It’s about our kids, our futures, and our
community — and the fact that we all deserve representation that truly
fights for every one of us.

[ [link removed] ]We are in this Democratic primary to win it, and to bring our fight for
working-class Detroiters to Congress — but we can’t do it without you.
Help set our campaign up for success from the jump with a grassroots
contribution of anything you can give today.



[ [link removed] ]Contribute $5



We’ve got a long road ahead of us, but I know that, together, we’ll get
there — so let’s get to work!

Thank you,

Donavan




 




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Justice Democrats
1390 Columbia Ave #261
Lancaster PA 17603
Email us: [email protected]