“A budget is a reflection of your values. Today, Republicans proposed a budget that slashes funding for health care and food for hungry children to pay for tax cuts for ultra-wealthy campaign donors like Elon Musk. I voted no.  Instead, I want to work on a budget that lowers costs, creates good paying jobs, protects Medicare and Social Security and gives tax cuts to working families, not mega millionaires.”  (4/10/25, Press Release)

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“I am excited to run for re-election in our highly competitive district, help win back the House and move on an agenda that uplifts the working people in our communities.” (Campaign Announcement, Michigan Advance, 4/112/25)

 

BACKGROUND + EXPERIENCE

Representative McDonald Rivet is a native of Portland, Michigan. She is a graduate of Michigan State University (BA) and the University of Michigan (MA). She was Executive Director of Michigan Head start. Chief of Staff of Michigan Education Department, V.P. of Program and Policy of the Skillman Foundation, member of the Charter Commission of Bay City, and Chief Strategy Officer the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance. She served in the Michigan State Senate from 2022 to 2024 where she led efforts to enact the largest tax cut in state history. She fought for abortion rights and commonsense gun policy.  She was the first woman ever to represent the Great Lakes Bay Region in the Michigan Senate.  In 2024, McDonald Rivet was elected to Congress defeating MAGA Republican Paul Junge.   Rivet is married and is the mother of six children.

 

ON THE ISSUES

Representative McDonald Rivet is running for a second term. She has been vocal about issues like abortion rights and economic development, social security and war in the Middle East. Specific positions include:

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• Reducing the cost of prescription drugs

• Addressing housing costs

• Addressing the cost of childcare

• Protecting abortion care

• Protecting privacy and healthcare

• Supports a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict

• Supports providing humanitarian relief to the Palestinian people

• Funding for Great Lakes restoration

 

POLITICS IN MICHIGAN

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

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Michigan has emerged as a battleground state in national politics and will continue to be so. There will be a U.S.  Senate seat on the ballot in ‘26 with the retirement of Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. McDonald Rivet’s decision to seek re-election rather than running for Sen. Peters” seat - an option she contemplated - is a significant one considering the potential for Republicans to flip her House seat.

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Representative McDonald Rivet defeated Paul Junge by 7% in 2024 in a newly created district. Currently, both the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate this seat as Lean D-meaning one party has an edge, but the race is competitive. This is illustrated by the fact that Trump won this same district by 2% in 2024. The National Republican Congressional committee has targeted this seat as a potential flip opportunity. In 2024, The Cook Political report noted that MI 08 is the median U.S. District in terms of “partisan lean” with 217 Districts more Democrat and 217 Districts more Republican. This fact is indicative of the very competitive nature of this district.

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