“.... we deserve so much more than a rich guy turned MAGA extremist trying to buy your vote...we’re running against Paul Junge, who is trying for a third time to buy a U.S. House seat. I am ready to take the campaign to Paul because I am a life-long Michigander. I raised my kids here. I have a record of delivering for the hard-working families of this district.” (Michigan Advance, 8/7/24)

“It’s really clear that there are a lot of Michigan families struggling. 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.” (WCMU Public Media, 7/30/24)

BACKGROUND + EXPERIENCE
Michigan State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet is a native of Portland, Michigan. She has a BA in History from Michigan State University + an MA from University of Michigan in Public Administration + Education. Her extensive public service experience includes Executive Director of Michigan Head Start; Chief of Staff of Michigan Education Department, Vice President of Program + Policy of the Skillman Foundation, member of the Charter Commission of Bay City, MI + Chief Strategy Officer at the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance.

Since 2022, Rivet has served in the Michigan State Senate where she led efforts to enact the largest tax cut in Michigan history. She fought for abortion rights + a common sense gun policy. She was the first woman to represent the Great Lakes Bay Region in the Michigan Senate. Sen Rivet is married + is the mother of 6 children.

ON THE ISSUES
Sen. Rivet is running to continue her work focusing especially on economic issues. Her agenda in Congress includes:
• Lowering the costs of prescription drugs
• Addressing the cost of housing
• Addressing the cost of childcare
• Protecting reproductive rights
• Protecting privacy + healthcare
• Supporting a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict
• Supporting humanitarian relief to the Palestinian people

POLITICS IN MICHIGAN
MI 08 includes much of Oakland County including Rochester. The district is centered on the City of Flint + the tri-cities metropolitan areas aroound Saginaw, Midland + Bay City.

 

MI 08 is an open seat created by the retirement of Democrat Dan Kildee. Republicans see this vacancy as a great opportunity to flip a Democrat district + are investing heavily to do so. Democrats need to hold this seat to reclaim control of the House. Michigan is a Presidential battleground state with a popular Democratic Governor. Democratic Representative Elissa Slotkin is running for an open Senate seat created by the retirement of Debbie Stabenow

MI 08 encompasses the Flint/Saginaw region. It is solidly middle + working class with elements of a still recovering “rust belt” economy.

Kildee defeated Paul Junge in this newly-formed district in 2022 by 10%. Junge is Rivet's Republican opponent in 2024. This was a Biden +2 District in 2020 + a Clinton +1 District in 2016.

Despite Kildee’s margin of victory in 2022, the 2024 race promises to be one of the most competitive + most critical in the country. The Cook Political report notes that MI 08 is the median US district in terms of “partisan lean” with 217 districts more Democratic + 217 districts more Republican.