Rep. Rashida Tlaib is seeking re-election in the Michigan 12th District race against GOP challenger James Hooper

MINNEAPOLIS — In Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, one of the original members of the “The squad“, hoping to fend off challenger James Hooper.

The 12th District encompasses much of Metro Detroit, including areas such as Livonia, Westland, Dearborn Heights, Redford Charter Township and Southfield.

Tlaib handily won the district in 2022 with 70.8% of the vote.

The candidates

Tlaib is a former social worker and Michigan state representative. She was, along with other “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar from Minnesota, among the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress.

Tlaib, a Detroit native, began his tenure in the U.S. House at calls almost immediately to impeach then-President Trump. He would ultimately be impeached twice while in office.

Tlaib began serving on the Financial Services Committee in 2019.

Hooper is the Wayne County Chairman who grew up on the east side of Detroit, information on his campaign websiteand “has served overseas in the mission field with Samaritan’s Purse in Liberia.”

The key questions

On the eve of her election to the US House, Tlaib identified immigration reform as her highest priority.

“I went to a predominantly African-American school. I didn’t even understand our immigration system. I knew my parents immigrated here. I think it’s hard to grow up in a community where your neighbors are directly affected. And that talking about walls and segregation and detaining children, I think the immigration system has dehumanized it,” Tlaib said.

Tlaib has been very critical of the war in Gaza in 2024. She is the only Palestinian American in Congress and the US House voted to criticize her by a vote of 234 to 188, with 22 Democrats joining all but 4 Republicans. In an emotional speech in the House of Representatives after the vote, Tlaib said her comments about Israel were aimed at its government and asked her colleagues who did not support a cease-fire to consider the plight of the Palestinians.

“I can’t believe I have to say this, but Palestinian people are not disposable,” she said. “We are human, just like everyone else.”

A day after she had been censured, Republicans in the Michigan Senate called on Tlaib to resign from office.

Hooper’s campaign materials identify him as a “liberty-minded conservative Republican” and said he is “unapologetically PRO-LIFE from conception to natural death. He has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with other Pro-Life advocates and will continue to be . a strong and relentless voice for LIFE in the US House of Representatives at this most critical time.”

He also said that “the Second Amendment is non-negotiable,” “will advocate for the rapid reduction and rapid elimination of the federal Department of Education,” and said he believes “no person should be required to carry ‘papers ‘ or a vaccination passport.”