Mich. State Board of Ed member launches bid for Congress

Michigan State Board of Education member Tiffany Tilley said Thursday she will campaign for the U.S. House in Metro Detroit's only swing district ― a seat held by first-term Republican U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township.

Tilley, 46, of West Bloomfield Township lives outside of the 10th District, which covers southern Macomb County, Rochester and Rochester Hills.

She noted she currently represents the district as a state official and has ties to the area, having graduated from what was then known as Rochester College and previously chairing a Young Democrats group there. Members of Congress are not required to reside in the district they represent.

"I want to run for jobs, living wages, and worker rights. I'm running because of education. I'm running to close the achievement gap. I'm running to be a voice for foster youth, for equitable funding and because of student loans," Tilley said in an interview.

"Then, of course, women's rights, reproductive rights, health care ― they tried to roll the clock back years. These are the things that I'm fighting for."

Tilley joins other Democrats already in the race including last year's nominee, Carl Marlinga, a former Macomb County judge and prosecutor who came within 1,600 votes of James in November. Other declared candidates include gun safety advocate Emily Busch of Oxford; financial adviser Diane Young of Warren; and Brian Jaye, who previously ran against U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain of Bruce Township.

Dr. Anil Kumar, a urologist who ran for Congress against then-U.S. Rep. Dave Trott, R-Birmingham, in 2016, is also exploring a bid, as well as Rhonda Powell of Mount Clemens, who came in second behind Marlinga in the 2022 Democratic primary. 

Former U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, D-Bloomfield Township, told The Detroit News this week he does not currently plan to run for any office in 2024. Levin previously represented parts of the new 10th District under an old political map but lost the Democratic primary last year next door in the 11th District to Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had approached Levin about the 10th, but he said he explained to them that he's not running.

"They reached out and we had a nice talk. Good friends," Levin said. "I’m trying to be supportive of and give honest counsel to all the candidates right now, as they all have reached out to me, including my friend Tiffany."

The DCCC has said Michigan's 10th District is among the 33 GOP-held or open seats it intends to target in 2024, casting James as vulnerable in his bid for a second term.

The National Republican Congressional Committee on Thursday highlighted Levin's decision to pass on the race, blaming "terrible recruitment execution by the DCCC."

"It's a smart strategy to run away from Creepy Carl Marlinga," NRCC spokesman Will Reinert said of the DCCC.

Tilley was elected to the State Board of Education in 2018 and serves as its co-vice chair with her term running through 2026. She ran unsuccessfully for Southfield City Council in 2015.

Her professional background is in community and economic development and nonprofit leadership, claiming that she has helped to bring millions of dollars into the southeastern Michigan through that work. She ran the Southfield Community Anti-Drug Coalition that focused on substance abuse prevention, she said.

Tilley grew up in northwest Detroit and at age 10 became the caregiver for her mother after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Tilley said as a member of the United Auto Workers her mom had the healthcare coverage she needed. Tilley also understands the devastating impact of gun violence after losing her brother in a shooting in 1993 and her cousin 10 years later.

"I have been through a lot of struggles and challenges. I've experienced a lot of things, and I've overcome a lot of things," Tilley said. "I understand what struggling families go through in Michigan, and I'm going to be a voice for them."

Tilley has a bachelor's of science in organizational leadership and communications from Rochester College and a master's in business administration from the University of Detroit Mercy, according to her state bio.

The Michigan state primary election is set for Aug. 6, 2024.

mburke@detroitnews.com