Abraham Aiyash

Abraham Aiyash
أبراهام عياش
Majority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
Preceded byBen Frederick
Member of the Michigan 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: أبراهام عياش) is an American politician serving as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives since 2020, currently representing the 9th district.[1][2] A member of the Democratic Party, Aiyash serves as the chamber's majority floor leader.[3] He represents much of Detroit's Midtown, New Center, North End, Boston Edison, Virginia Park, and all of the city of Hamtramck.

Early life and education

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

Career

When he was 13, Aiyash worked as a community organizer for the Barack 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 represent Michigan's 2nd Senate district. He finished second after Adam Hollier, who won the general election. During his campaign, Aiyash was endorsed by the Detroit Free Press.[8]

Abraham announced his candidacy for the 4th district of the Michigan House of Representatives following the death of Isaac Robinson in 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

Aiyash has shown support for clean 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 make Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr state holidays.[16]

Aiyash supports expanding civil rights. In 2023, he co-sponsored a bill in the Michigan state legislature which amended the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections for the LGBTQ 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

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

References

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