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MI · Officeholder

Donavan McKinney

DState Representative · District 11

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. House · Michigan's 13th District

Biography

Donavan McKinney is a Michigan state representative from Detroit who won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary over incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar. Before the legislature he worked for a healthcare union, in the state House, and for a national climate organization. His campaign website lists priorities including union jobs, taxes on billionaires and corporations, environmental justice, Medicare for All and public education funding.[1][2]

McKinney describes himself as a lifelong Detroiter who grew up in northeast Detroit, raised by his mother and grandmother; according to his campaign website, his family moved more than 13 times because of evictions.[2] Ballotpedia lists his birthplace as Detroit.[1] He attended Detroit Public Schools and earned a bachelor's degree in public policy from the University of Michigan (Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy) in 2014, and his campaign website describes him as the first in his family to graduate from college.[1][2]

McKinney's career before elected office included community engagement at the nonprofit Community Development Advocates of Detroit, a post as legislative director in the Michigan House of Representatives, and service as political director of SEIU Healthcare Michigan.[1] He later served as national political director of Climate Power, a national climate organization.[1]

McKinney ran unsuccessfully in the 2020 Democratic primary for Michigan House District 3.[1] He won the November 2022 general election for Michigan House District 14 and took office in 2023, then won re-election in 2024 in the redrawn District 11, which covers northeast Detroit and southwest and west Warren.[1][3] In the Michigan House he was assigned to the Appropriations Committee (2023-2026).[1] He defeated incumbent Shri Thanedar in the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary for Michigan's 13th Congressional District.[1][4]

  1. 1.Donavan McKinney · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.McKinney's campaign website statement (quoted by Ballotpedia) · Donavan McKinney for Congress / Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Donavan McKinney - State Representative · Michigan House Democrats · 2026-10-21 Official record
  4. 4.United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.

On the ballot

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 3 of 197 party-divided votes on file.

  • Natural resources and environmental protection act: amend section 40111a

    What it does: Allows people to put out feed for wildlife and birds, despite Natural Resources Commission deer and elk feeding orders, if it is within 300 feet of a residence and totals no more than two gallons; requires feeding ord…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 19–32, Republicans 57–0

    Jul 3, 2026Official record ↗

  • Revised judicature act of 1961: add section 2940a.

    What it does: Bars owners or occupants of property within five miles of a racetrack from suing the track under nuisance, takings or other theories if the track was built before they acquired or improved the property; environmental…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 9–37, Republicans 55–1

    Mar 19, 2026Official record ↗

  • The code of criminal procedure: repeal sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 6a, and 6b of chapter VII

    What it does: Repeals the Code of Criminal Procedure sections that let a judge, on a complaint or a prosecutor's request, conduct an inquiry into suspected crimes, compel witnesses to testify, and order the arrest of suspects.

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 16–35, Republicans 58–0

    Jun 11, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HB 6263 · MI HOUSE

The Michigan penal code: amend section 520e

NoVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 79–24·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6262 · MI HOUSE

The Michigan penal code: amend section 520d

NoVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 77–26·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6261 · MI HOUSE

The Michigan penal code: amend section 520c

NoVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 78–25·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6260 · MI HOUSE

The Michigan penal code: amend section 520b

NoVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 79–24·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6259 · MI HOUSE

The code of criminal procedure: amend section 16y of chapter XVII

NoVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 77–26·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6302 · MI HOUSE

The revised school code: amend section 1347

NoVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 76–27·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6282 · MI HOUSE

Prohibit former legislators from accepting employment with certain entities; and to provide penalties.

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 88–15·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 4135 · MI HOUSE

Authorize the state administrative board to convey state-owned property in Jackson County; to prescribe conditions for the conveyance; to provide for powers and duties of state departments, agencies…

YesVOTED

Motion: Concur in amendments made by the Senate

Passed 101–2·Substantive·Sep 22, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 433 · MI HOUSE

The revised school code: add section 1509.

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 99–4·Substantive·Sep 22, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 413 · MI HOUSE

Public health code: amend sections 18221, 18223, 18233, and 18237

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 100–3·Substantive·Sep 22, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 613 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.