Former House Leader Says He Would ‘Freeze’ DTE Rates in State Senate

February 10, 2026

Abraham Aiyash, who previously served as Michigan House majority floor leader representing Hamtramck and Detroit from 2020 to 2024, has announced his candidacy for the state's newly redrawn first Senate district currently held by Senator Erika Geiss. The district boundaries were reconfigured by the Michigan Citizens Redistricting Commission after legal challenges regarding racial bias, now encompassing parts of Detroit and several Downriver communities. Aiyash is facing a competitive Democratic primary against Justin Onwenu, a former economic development official under Mayor Mike Duggan, in a race characterized as contrasting progressive approaches.

Who is affected

Abraham Aiyash (candidate for state Senate)
Senator Erika Geiss (current seat holder for the district)
Justin Onwenu (competing Democratic primary candidate)
Residents of the redrawn first state Senate district, including communities in Detroit, Lincoln Park, River Rouge, Wyandotte, and Ecorse
DTE Energy customers experiencing utility rate increases
Laborers' International Union of North America members (endorsers)
Detroit City Council members and state legislators who attended or endorsed
Michigan families struggling with living costs

What action is being taken

Aiyash is running for the first state Senate district seat
Senator Kevin Hertel has introduced SB 768, which prohibits utilities from filing rate cases earlier than three years after their last rate case
DTE is requesting rate increases from the state's public utility commission to fund infrastructure investments
Justin Onwenu is running against Aiyash in the Democratic primary

Why it matters

This race is significant because it reflects widespread voter dissatisfaction with rising utility costs and the affordability crisis in Michigan, with residents reporting utility bills have increased 120% over the last 20 years. The competition represents a broader political struggle over corporate interests versus community needs, particularly regarding utility regulation and economic relief for working families. The outcome will influence Michigan's approach to utility rate regulation, as candidates from both parties—including gubernatorial candidates—are proposing rate freezes in response to public pressure. Additionally, this race features contrasting progressive visions and could determine the direction of Democratic policy priorities in a newly redistricted area.

What's next

The Democratic primary election will determine which candidate advances
Aiyash plans to push for extending the rate case window from three years (as proposed in SB 768) to five years if elected
Gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson has indicated she would declare an electricity cost freeze on her first day as governor if elected

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle