10 | JANUARY 20 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

LANSING 
F

or the past four years, Michigan 
has had two Jewish members of 
Congress, both Democrats: Andy 
Levin, who succeeded his legendary father 
Sandy Levin, and Elissa Slotkin, who has 
twice won a seat that had been designed to 
elect Republicans.
But this year, both will be running in 
districts that are substantially different. 
One, Andy Levin, is facing an unexpect-
ed primary challenge that could end his 
career, while Slotkin, as she’s always had, 
seems destined to have a tough battle to 
survive.
Meanwhile, the substantial Jewish pop-
ulation of Southfield is very likely to find 
that next year they will be represented in 
Congress by a person many find anathema: 
Rashida Tlaib, a Muslim of Palestinian 
descent who repeatedly has attacked Israel 
for what she has called its “apartheid” and 
“racist” policies.
Why is all this happening — and how 
are things likely to turn out? Well, as you 
may remember from civics class, the law 
requires states to draw new congressional 
and legislative districts every 10 years once 
the results of the newest census are known.
In the past, the Michigan Legislature 
always did this. But four years ago, a grass-
roots citizens’ group called Voters Not 
Politicians succeeded in amending the state 

constitution. Redistricting was turned over 
to a new Michigan Independent Citizens 
Redistricting Commission controlled by 
no political party.
They were charged with designing dis-
tricts that were close to equal in popula-
tion, not gerrymandered to give any party 
an advantage and that kept communities 
with common interests together, so far as 
possible to do so. 
Additionally, they had another prob-
lem: National population shifts meant 
that Michigan will lose a seat in the U.S. 
House of Representatives, the sixth it 
has lost since 1980. That meant that no 
matter what, at least one current member 
wouldn’t be back next year. 
Late surprises could be in store, but 
here’s an early look at how all this seems 
likely to impact Metro Detroit’s Jewish 
community:

LEVIN VS. STEVENS
Since 2019, the 61-year-old Levin has 
represented Michigan’s old Ninth District, 
two-thirds of which is southern Macomb 
County. But the new map divided that ter-
ritory between two districts. The Macomb 
County part is in a new 10th District, now 
seen as a swing district that either party 
could win in November, while his Oakland 
territory, including his home, is in a new 
11th District, much of which has been rep-

resented by Haley Stevens, who was also 
first elected in 2018.
Levin immediately announced that he 
would run in the 11th District. But so did 
Stevens, whose situation is the reverse of 
his. 
Up to now, she has represented more 
of Oakland County than Levin, but she 
lives in Rochester Hills, now 
in the one tiny corner of the 
mostly Macomb 10th District. 
Members of Congress don’t 
have to live in the districts 
they represent, but she said 
she’d move.
That sets up a potential 
blockbuster battle between Stevens and 
Levin to win the August Democratic pri-
mary. 
Some feel Levin may have an edge 
because of his famous name and his fami-
ly’s fundraising abilities. But maybe not: In 
2018, Levin won that nomina-
tion only because of Macomb 
County voters; he narrowly 
lost Oakland County to Ellen 
Lipton. 
Whoever does win will be 
favored in this Democratic-
leaning district in November, 
which likely contains more Jewish voters 
than all other Michigan congressional dis-
tricts combined.

New congressional 
districts impact 
Metro Detroit’s 
Jewish community.

The 
Lines 
Are 
Drawn

Hayley 
Stevens

JACK LESSENBERRY 
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Andy Levin

Old Congressional Districts

Newly Drawn Districts

BALLOTPEDIA

AVERYTHECOMRADE VIA WIKIPEDIA

