Christina Hines, a prosecutor, secured the Democratic nomination in Michigan's 10th Congressional District primary election on Tuesday, positioning herself to challenge for a seat that Republicans have held in recent cycles.
Democrats are counting on Hines' focus on affordability and her background as a special victims prosecutor to help flip the district and narrow the GOP's slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district has trended Republican in recent years but remains competitive.
Incumbent Rep. John James, R-Mich., won re-election in 2024 with 51.1% of the vote over Democratic challenger Carl Marlinga. In the preceding election cycle, James narrowly defeated Marlinga by a margin of 48.8% to 48.3%.
James announced he would not seek re-election to his House seat, instead opting to run for governor, stating his intention to secure Michigan's future prosperity.
Hines has framed her candidacy as a means to protect the country from what she described as an overzealous administration and institutional corruption. "Congress has too many millionaires but not nearly enough moms who get things done," Hines said.
Her platform prioritizes reducing the cost of living by addressing "price gouging" and advocating for an increased minimum wage. She also supports investment in technical education and aims to safeguard federal programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare against potential cuts.
In her career, Hines has focused on assisting victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking. Her prosecutorial experience also includes cases involving homicide, torture, and hate crimes. Former Democratic nominee Marlinga, a retired Macomb County Prosecutor and Circuit Court Judge, has endorsed Hines, as has Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor.
Hines will now advance to the general election on November 3.