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Abraham Aiyash

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Abraham Aiyash
ابراهيم عياش
Majority Leader of theMichigan House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
Preceded byBen Frederick
Member of theMichigan House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 1, 2020
Preceded byIsaac Robinson
Constituency4th district(2020–2022)
9th district(2023–present)
Personal details
Born(1994-01-20)January 20, 1994(age 30)
Hamtramck, Michigan,U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMichigan State University(BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Abraham Aiyash(Arabic:ابراهيم عياش) is an American politician serving as a member of theMichigan House of Representativesfrom the9th district.[1][2]The district covers much ofDetroit'sMidtown,New Center,North End,Boston Edison,Virginia Park,and all of the city ofHamtramck.He is a member of theDemocratic Party.In 2023, Aiyash became majority leader of the House of Representatives.[3]

Early life and education

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Aiyash was born and raised inHamtramck, Michigan,the seventh of eight children. His parents immigrated toMichiganfromYemen.Aiyash was educated in theHamtramck Public Schoolsand earned a Bachelor of Arts degree fromMichigan State University,where he studied pre-medicine, political science, and Muslim studies.[4][5]

Career

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When he was 13, Aiyash worked as a community organizer for theBarack Obama 2008 presidential campaign.[6]In 2015 and 2016, he worked in the office of State Rep.Rose Mary Robinson.[7][5]

In 2018, Aiyash was a candidate for the Democratic primary to representMichigan's 2nd Senate district.He finished second afterAdam Hollier,who won the general election. During his campaign, Aiyash was endorsed by theDetroit Free Press.[8]

Abraham announced his candidacy for the4th districtof theMichigan House of Representativesfollowing the death ofIsaac Robinsonin March 2020.[9][10][11][12]In the Democratic primary, Aiyash placed first in a field of 13 candidates. He defeated Republican nominee Howard Weathington, Working Class Party candidate Linda Rayburn, and Independent MD Rabbi Alam in the November general election. He assumed office on December 1, 2020.[13]

In 2023, Aiyash became majority leader of the House of Representatives, the first Arab-American to do so. He also became the highest-ranking Muslim American in the state's legislative history.[3]

Political positions

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Aiyash has shown support forclean energy,legislation against pollution and other issues surrounding the environmental and public health.[14]

Aiyash has advanced legislation aimed at gun reform to curb gun violence.[15]Aiyash has proposed legislation to makeEid al-AdhaandEid al-Fitrstate holidays.[16]

Aiyash supports expanding civil rights. In 2023, he co-sponsored a bill in theMichigan state legislaturewhich amended theElliott-Larsen Civil Rights Actto include protections for theLGBTQ community.[17]

Aiyash opposed a resolution calling for the support of Israel and condemnation of the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel, saying the resolution fails to recognize the suffering of the Palestinians. Aiyash stated "I think any conversation around what is happening in Israel and Palestine that makes no acknowledgement of the 70-plus year occupation and mistreatment of the Palestinian people is disrespectful.”[18]

Electoral history

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2020 Michigan House of Representatives election,District 4[19]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abraham Aiyash 5,352 38.3
Democratic Michele Oberholtzer 1,946 13.9
Democratic Tawanna Simpson 1,520 10.9
Democratic Tonya Myers Phillips 1,419 10.2
Democratic Delorean Holmes 1,003 7.2
Democratic Shahab Ahmed 835 6.0
Total votes 13,962 100
General election
Democratic Abraham Aiyash 27,263 89.7
Republican Howard Weathington 1,736 5.7
Working Class Party Linda Rayburn 1,027 3.4
Independent MD Rabbi Alam 355 1.2
Total votes 30,377 100
2018 Michigan Senate election,District 2[20]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adam Hollier 6,938 25.2
Democratic Abraham Aiyash 5,766 21.0
Democratic Brian Banks 4,725 17.2
Democratic Regina Williams 2,598 9.5
Democratic LaMar Lemmons Jr. 2,512 9.1
Democratic John Olumba 1,747 6.4
Democratic George Cushingberry Jr. 1,121 4.1
Democratic Anam Miah 931 3.4
Democratic Lawrence Gannan 555 2.0
Democratic William Phillips 328 1.2
Democratic Tommy Campbell 265 1.0
Total votes 27,486 100

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Status quo in Wayne County and State Reps races, newcomers to universities' boards".November 6, 2020.RetrievedNovember 11,2020.
  2. ^"US elections 2020: Muslim American candidates who made history".Middle East Eye.RetrievedNovember 11,2020.
  3. ^ab"Abraham Aiyash selected as House majority floor leader as Democrats take control of the legislature".Arab American News.November 11, 2022.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.
  4. ^"About Aiyash".Abraham Aiyash for State Representative District 4.RetrievedDecember 18,2020.
  5. ^ab"Abraham Aiyash sworn in as first Yemeni American State Rep".The Yemeni American(in Arabic). November 21, 2020.RetrievedDecember 18,2020.
  6. ^"Abraham Aiyash is Running for District 4 State Representative".The Yemeni American(in Arabic). June 17, 2020.RetrievedDecember 18,2020.
  7. ^"Meet Rep. Aiyash".housedems.RetrievedDecember 18,2020.
  8. ^"All Detroit Free Press endorsements for the 2020 general election".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedNovember 11,2020.
  9. ^"State Rep. Isaac Robinson dies of suspected coronavirus infection".Crain's Detroit Business.March 29, 2020.RetrievedMarch 30,2020.
  10. ^"State Rep Isaac Robinson dead at 44; mom suspects COVID-19".seattlepi.March 30, 2020.RetrievedMarch 30,2020.
  11. ^Zhao, Christina (March 29, 2020)."Michigan state Rep. Isaac Robinson dies from suspected coronavirus infection in Detroit".Newsweek.RetrievedMarch 30,2020.
  12. ^"State Rep. Isaac Robinson dead at 44; mom suspects COVID-19".SFGate.March 30, 2020.
  13. ^"Abraham Aiyash".Ballotpedia.RetrievedDecember 18,2020.
  14. ^Davidson, Kyle (March 27, 2023)."Energy, clean water and pollution top list of environmental priorities for House Dems ⋆ Michigan Advance".Michigan Advance.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.
  15. ^Schuster, Simon; Burr, Alyssa (February 14, 2023)."Michigan State mass shooting sends gun reform laws to top of Democrats' agenda".mlive.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.
  16. ^Coleman, Ken (April 25, 2023)."Legislators announce bill package to recognize new state holidays ⋆ Michigan Advance".Michigan Advance.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.
  17. ^"Rep. Aiyash supports civil rights expansion".Rep. Aiyash supports civil rights expansion.The Hamtramck Review. March 17, 2023.RetrievedJune 28,2023.
  18. ^"Bipartisan Michigan House resolution to condemn violence in Israel may be doomed ⋆ Michigan Advance".October 12, 2023.
  19. ^"Michigan State House of Representatives District 4".Ballotpedia.RetrievedAugust 5,2020.
  20. ^"Michigan State Senate District 2".Ballotpedia.RetrievedMay 15,2020.
[edit]
Michigan House of Representatives
Preceded by Majority Leader of theMichigan House of Representatives
2023–present 		Incumbent
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