Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet was first elected in 2024 with Council support. She received 51.3% of the vote in her highly competitive district. President Trump also won MI-08 by two points, making Rep. McDonald Rivet one of just a few members who successfully won their first term in a Trump district last cycle. According to Cook Political Report, in 2026, Michigan’s 8th is ‘Seat 218,’ the tipping point for control of the U.S. House.
This mid-Michigan district is centered on the city of Flint and the “Tri-Cities” metropolitan area around Saginaw, Midland and Bay City. It is 85% white and has a majority working-class population. The district was long represented by Rep. Dan Kildee who retired last term.
Rep. McDonald Rivet serves on the Agriculture and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees and was selected as the Freshman Leadership Representative for the New Democrat Coalition. The Congresswoman focused on lower costs, creating more jobs and protecting health care access during her first year in Congress.
She’s also demonstrated leadership on Council issues and foreign policy in general. Rep. McDonald Rivet co-sponsored H.R. 3564, the Nuclear First-Strike Security Act, last year. She also criticized President Trump’s attacks in Venezuela: “Americans have lost far too much blood and taxpayer money to reckless, poorly thought-through forever wars and regime change. We cannot afford another.” She has voted repeatedly to reassert Congress’ War Powers authority.
