Abbas Alawieh

Abbas Alawieh is the Democratic candidate for Michigan State Senate District 2 in the November 3, 2026 general election, after winning the August 4 Democratic primary over Erin Byrnes.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, he described himself as a former congressional chief of staff and said his central policy priority is "Working Families First."[2]

Alawieh earned a high school diploma from Fordson High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2014, and a graduate degree from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 2017.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, he said he served as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) and as a senior legislative staffer to U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Andy Levin (D-MI).[2] He also said he was a Democratic National Convention delegate in 2024 after leading the Uncommitted movement.[2] Alawieh said he moved back to Michigan to care for his mother after her cancer diagnosis and that he lives in Dearborn with his wife, Amanda.[2]

Alawieh won the Democratic primary with 58.9% of the vote (23,722 votes) to Byrnes's 41.1% (16,567 votes).[1] In his survey responses, Alawieh listed lowering health care costs and Medicare for All, universal childcare and pre-K, investment in roads and mass public transportation, and expanded affordable housing among the areas he wants to work on.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.