Majority of Detroit City Council Endorse Justin Onwenu for Michigan State Senate District 1

February 10, 2026

Justin Onwenu, a Detroit Democrat running for Michigan's District 1 State Senate seat, has secured endorsements from five of Detroit's nine City Council members, including Council President James Tate. The attorney, organizer, and adjunct law professor is positioning himself as someone who can effectively represent Detroit's interests in the state capital and deliver tangible results on issues like affordability and neighborhood investment. Onwenu has already accumulated over 50 endorsements from local officials, labor unions, and community leaders across the newly redistricted district, which includes parts of Detroit and several smaller Wayne County cities.

Who is affected

Justin Onwenu (Senate candidate receiving endorsements)
Detroit City Council members: James Tate, Coleman A. Young II, Angela Whitfield-Calloway, Scott Benson, and Latisha Johnson
Detroit residents and voters in District 1
Residents of Ecorse, Lincoln Park, River Rouge, and Wyandotte
Abraham Aiyash (opponent in the Democratic primary)
Current state Senator Erika Geiss (whose constituents partially overlap with the new district)
Detroit entrepreneurs and working families

What action is being taken

Five Detroit City Council members are endorsing Justin Onwenu's candidacy
Onwenu is campaigning for the District 1 Michigan State Senate seat
Onwenu is pitching himself as a candidate who can navigate policy and deliver outcomes for working families

Why it matters

This endorsement represents a significant show of institutional support in a district where Detroit comprises the majority of voters, giving Onwenu considerable political backing. The endorsements signal Detroit's leadership wants stronger partnership with the state government in Lansing to secure funding, policy victories, and tangible neighborhood improvements. The race carries particular importance for Black Detroiters' representation at a time when the endorsers believe their rights, neighborhoods, and economic future face direct threats, and when issues of affordability, neighborhood stability, and political influence are pressing concerns for residents.

What's next

Onwenu and Abraham Aiyash are expected to face off in the August primary election

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle