Democrats elected to state, county seats in Warren

WARREN — Republicans rolled across most of Macomb County and the state of Michigan on Nov. 5, but incumbents and newcomers brought a blue wave of Democratic wins in many of the races in the Warren Weekly’s coverage area.

Incumbent Democrats who ran for seats in Districts 11, 13 and 14 of the Michigan House of Representatives were victorious.

Democratic state Rep. Donavan McKinney won District 11 with 28,009 votes over Republican candidate Dale J. Walker, who received 6,021 votes. Before redistricting, McKinney served in District 14. District 11 now represents parts of Warren and parts of Detroit.

Democratic state Rep. Mai Xiong won District 13 with 24,901 votes over Republican Ron Singer, who received 22,669 votes, and Working Class Party candidate Hashim Malik Bakari, who received 1,428 votes. The newly redistricted District 13 represents northeast Warren, the majority of Roseville and portions of St. Clair Shores.

“I am so excited. My team and I worked really hard this year,” Xiong said about being reelected. “It has been reaffirming to know the residents of the 13th have been able to see we have been working really hard and that we care about the community.”

She added, “I am going to continue to listen to the residents and meet them where they are. I look forward to hearing from them before I make any decision. That’s the most important thing to me.”

Xiong has introduced two new pieces of legislation and is hopeful they will be passed during the lame duck sessions. One bill aims to help improve maternal health with a scholarship of up to $3,000 for those who want to train to become doulas. The other bill would secure a tax credit for college students who are required to purchase books.

Democratic state Rep. Mike McFall won newly redistricted District 14 with 26,654 votes over Republican Barbara Barber, who received 18,481 votes. This district represents Center Line, Hazel Park, Madison Heights and parts of Warren. Before redistricting, McFall served in District 8.

In the race for Macomb County Board of Commissioners, Democrat Lisa Wojno won District 11 and Democrat Michael Howard prevailed in District 12. Wojno won in District 11 with 19,075 votes over Republican Gus Ghanam, who received 16,447 votes.

“I feel great, very honored and happy and excited that the constituents of District 11 have voted for me and put their trust in me to represent them at the county level,” Wojno said.

This is not Wojno’s first foray into politics but is her first time serving on the county level.

“I was elected in 2002 to the state House (of Representatives). I represented a portion of Warren and Center Line,” Wojno said. “I was elected in 2002, then reelected in 2004 and 2006, then was term-limited at the end of ’08 and been back in the private sector ever since.”

Wojno added, “I thought I could do a good job representing the county.”

Among her top priorities is to make sure Macomb County receives its fair share of state and federal funding and prioritizes the resources for senior citizens programs, the public health department, veteran services and mental health services.

Howard won election with 17,853 votes over Libertarian Fredrick Horndt, who received 5,113 votes. Current Macomb County Commissioner Michelle Nard, D-District 12, and former Warren City Councilman Eddie Kabacinski were among the write-in candidates who received a cumulative total of 815 votes.