State senator Kristen McDonald Privet emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for Michigan's 8th Congressional District. The decision came after Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., announced his decision not to seek re-election, opening up the seat he has held since 2012 for new contenders.
The primary race featured three candidates vying for the nomination. Alongside McDonald Privet were Matt Collier, former mayor of Flint, Michigan in the late 1980s, and Pamela Pugh, the current president of the Michigan State Board of Education.
McDonald Privet, the first female state senator representing the Great Lakes Bay Region, boasts an impressive resume. She has previously held positions such as executive director of Michigan Head Start, chief of staff for Michigan’s Department of Education, and vice president of the Skillman Foundation.