Kristen McDonald-Rivet said that her focus on economic issues as a Congresswoman would be the “same agenda, different space” as her time in the Michigan State Senate.
She is running to represent the 8th Congressional District that covers areas the cities of Midland, Saginaw, Bay City and Flint.
McDonald-Rivet currently serves the Midland, Saginaw and Bay City areas in the Michigan State Senate and is one of three candidates running in the upcoming Democratic primary.
The seat is an open one after U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint), is retiring from congress.
Her agenda includes “lowering prescription drug costs, addressing the cost of housing, addressing the cost of childcare and also protecting our women's abortion care rights and protecting our privacy and healthcare,” McDonald-Rivet said in an interview with WCMU.
She said she has seen prices for the cost of living increasing and is impacting Michigan families.
“It's really clear that there are a lot of Michigan families that are struggling," McDonald-Rivet said. "When you understand how much groceries cost, the cost of housing, the cost of prescription drugs- The reality is very difficult for people to afford a life where they can afford all those things and then maybe go on vacation every once in a while.”
McDonald Rivet said that her history of tax reform in the Michigan Senate gives her credibility that translates to the national stage.
In March of 2023, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law the "Lowering MI Costs Plan”. McDonald-Rivet sponsored the Michigan Working Families Tax Credit portion of the law, which matched the federal earned income tax credit to 30%.
McDonald-Rivet said she has called for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and that the return of the hostages is equally important.
In addition, she said “we should also be using our position as a longtime friend and ally to try to ensure that we have humanitarian relief, that we have medical aid and that the focus of the war is on Hamas and not the Palestinian people."
She applied a similar mindset to the war in Ukraine.
"Ukraine is another place where I think it's an important stopgap. As we look at Russia's move across, they have moved into Ukraine, the United States stands behind it. And I'm fully supportive of that funding,” McDonald-Rivet said.
Early voting is underway across the state and ends on Sunday, August 4.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated that McDonald-Rivet “...is an advocate for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.” The story has been updated to reflect her full position on the conflict.
