New York City — Today, Voice for Refuge Action Fund released its endorsements for the upcoming general elections. We are proud to endorse Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Representative Debbie Dingell, Representative Rashida Tlaib, Hillary Scholten for US House District 3, Brian Jaye for US House District 9,and Shri Thanedar for US House District 13. We are also pleased to endorse Stephanie Chang for State Senate District 3, Padma Kuppa for State Senate District 9, Alabas Farhat for State Assembly District 3, Ranjeev Puri for State Assembly District 24, Christina Kafkakis for State Assembly District 49, Shadia Martini for State Assembly District 54, and Aisha Farooqi for State Assembly District 57.
“Michigan is home to thousands of refugees and new Americans. We share a commitment, alongside these candidates, to ensuring that the voices from these communities are represented at every level of government within Michigan,” said Mary Elizabeth Margolis, Voice for Refuge’s Acting Managing Director.
“Gretchen Whitmer has been a champion for refugees as governor and we look forward to the personal and professional experiences that Chang, Kuppa, Farhat, Puri, Kafkakis, Martini, and Farooqi would bring to the state legislature, some as returning representatives and others as first-time representatives.”
“The Michigan Congressional Delegation also includes many champions for refugees and immigrants, but also those who are anti-refugee extremists. We endorse Representatives Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib because of their consistent support for refugees and immigrants as elected representatives. And we endorse Hillary Scholten and Shri Thanedar with the hopes that two more pro-refugee representatives can join the Michigan delegation.”
This is Voice for Refuge’s second round of endorsements in the 2022 elections, and the third time the 501c(4) organization has endorsed candidates for election. Voice for Refuge Action Fund specifically aims to endorse candidates based upon their stance on refugee issues. See all of our endorsements at www.voiceforrefuge.org/endorsements
Candidates were endorsed based on their answers to questions about their support for refugee resettlement, their work on welcoming refugees and immigrants in their community, and their understanding of policies specific to their potential role as a Federal, State, or Local representative. An individual’s public statements and any applicable past actions were also assessed.
The election is November 8th this year. Early voting/mail in voting in Michigan starts on September 29.
Voice for Refuge is the first 501(c)4 organization created to advance pro-refugee policies at the national, state, and local level and to hold elected leaders accountable to upholding America’s legacy of welcome. Voice for Refuge is educating the public about the benefits of refugee resettlement, advocating for pro-refugee policies in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, and increasing civic engagement among refugees through non-partisan voter education. Voice for Refuge will also promote the representation of refugees in government by supporting former refugees and pro-refugee candidates running for office.
