Former state Rep. Leslie Love announced today that she is running in the Democratic primary to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
The front-runner for the seat has been U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin — who represents Livingston County as part of the 7th Congressional District; Slotkin has already raised over $3 million. Dearborn businessman Nasser Bedouin announced his intent to run in the primary several weeks ago. It is also speculated that State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh and actor Hill Harper may be throwing their hats into the Democratic primary soon.
Love represented Michigan’s 10th District, which included parts of northwest Detroit and Redford Township in the Michigan House from 2014-2020, when she was term-limited out. Love is currently the assistant deputy director of the Michigan Department of Transportation metro-region. She is also the first African-American woman to serve as a commissioner on the Natural Resources Commission.
During the pandemic, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Love to the COVID-19 Nursing Home Preparedness Taskforce. In 2016, Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Love to the Michigan Science Technology Engineering and Math (MiSTEM) Taskforce. Love also held leadership positions with the House Democratic Caucus, Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, and the Progressive Women’s Caucus, as well as with other regional and national organizations.
“This election is about more than who has the most money,” Love said in a statement. “This campaign is about giving people a choice. It’s about representation. Michiganders deserve a proven progressive leader with a track record of delivering results. We want to demonstrate to people that government can work when we elect a leader from the people, by the people, who puts people first.”
