The Collective PAC Endorses A Slate of Candidates for State and Local Races in Michigan

Tuesday, July 26th, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC  — the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation, and power across all levels of government — endorsed a slate of candidates for state and local races in Michigan. 

• State Representative Helena Scott is running for re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives in District Seven. State Rep. Scott is currently serving her first term and has accomplished securing over $1 billion for Detroit public schools, sponsored and cosponsored over 500 bills, and created and chaired the House of Legislature Care Caucus.  If re-elected, State Rep. Scott plans to promote gun control reform, improve state and local infrastructure, and improve the quality of education to increase student literacy, retention, and graduation rates. 

 

• Mr. James Johnson Jr. is running for Michigan House of Representatives in District 47. Mr. Johnson Jr. is the delegate for the Huron Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. His passion for servitude led him to be the elected Vice-Chair of his local United Way, an international network of local nonprofit fundraising affiliates. If elected, Mr. Johnson Jr. plans to fight for workers; rights, reproductive rights, climate change, and universal healthcare. 

 

• State Representative Kyra Bolden is running for Michigan’s Supreme Court. State Rep. Bolden is an attorney and currently serving her second term representing District 35. Prior to serving as a state representative, Mrs. Bolden served as a criminal defense attorney, judicial law clerk, and civil litigation attorney. If elected, State Rep. Bolden will become the first Black woman to serve on Michigan’s Supreme Court. 

• Ms. Janey Lamar is running for the Tenth Circuit Court Judge in Saginaw County. Ms. Lamar is a Saginaw native, child welfare advocate, and a graduate of Michigan State University and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Currently, Ms. Lamar is the managing attorney of Lamar Law, specializing in criminal defense and family law. 

 

• Mrs. Mercedes Watts is running for the 20th Circuit Court Judge in Ottawa County. Mrs. Watts serves her community as a public defender. She advocates for keeping families together. If elected, Mrs. Watts aspires to bring compassion and integrity into the courtroom and her decision-making. 

• Commissioner Justin Hodge is running for re-election to the Washtenaw County Commission in District Five.  During his first term, Commissioner Hodge successfully launched a countywide Children’s Saving Account Program and increased the investment into the county’s Health Department. Currently, Commissioner Hodge teaches social work at the University of Michigan, teaching and empowering his students to find policy solutions for real life application. If re-elected, Mr. Hodge aspires to advocate for affordable housing through inclusionary zoning, investing in renewable energy sources, and consistency in policing and  training.  

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a genuinely equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state, and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward. Over the past five years, The Collective PAC has successfully helped 300 Black candidates win elections across the United States.