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Progressive state Democrats court new voters in re-drawn districts

(From left to right) Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sharice Davids, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley.
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(From left to right) Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sharice Davids, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley.

Congressional candidates in Michigan are courting voters in re-drawn Congressional boundaries, with the state's party primary elections only a week away.

Some progressive members of the state's Congressional delegation are counting on help from some well-known political names.

Several sitting members of Congress switched to new districts in Michigan, including U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib, one of the so-called "Squad" of progressive women in the House.

That includes New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who told those canvassing Detroit neighborhoods that a vote for Tlaib means a blow against corporate-backed special interest money. "And so when we go out here and knock on these doors for Rashida, we let them know Detroit will not be bought," she said.

Her colleague, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, told supporters in Detroit the race is also about the progressive movement itself. "It's not just four women in Congress, it's anyone who's moving with boldness and urgency to disrupt the status quo because you know you are standing in the gap and lives depend on you," she said.

Senator Elizabeth Warren rallied with Michigan progressive Congressman Andy Levin, who is battling a fellow Democratic House member Haley Stevens in a new district.

Quinn Klinefelter is a host and Senior News Editor for 101.9 WDET, anchoring midday newscasts and preparing reports for WDET, NPR and the BBC.