Michigan’s only Black member of Congress will not seek re-election. Brenda Lawrence is the latest in a string of retirements for Democrats.
A political fixture in and around Detroit, Representative Lawrence has been in public office for 30 years and is currently in her fourth term in the House. Michigan lost a Congressional seat in the last census and it seemed unlikely Lawrence would be the odd person out in a heavily democratic, newly redrawn, district.
In a video statement, she says her status as the only Black member of Michigan’s Congressional delegation is not lost on her.
“So whether it's in the halls of Congress city halls or local school boards representation matters”
Lawrence move is the latest in more than two dozen retirements of House Democrats this cycle.