Candidate Profile: Mary Cavanagh, MI State Senate

REDFORD, MI — Democrat Mary Cavanagh is running for election to the Michigan State Senate to represent District 6, which includes portions of Farmington Hills, Livonia and Redford. She will face Vicki Barnett and Darryl Brown in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary.

Here's how she filled out her candidate profile:

Name

Mary Cavanagh

Campaign website

https://www.maryformichigan.co...

City or town of residence

Redford Township

Office sought

Michigan State Senate

District, if applicable

6th State Senate District

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Wayne State University focusing on the evolutionary study of human behavior

Occupation

State House Representative for HD10 (2020- present)

Family

Daughter of Phil Cavanagh, former Wayne County Commissioner & State Representative, and of Lily Cavanagh, current Treasurer of Redford Twp., granddaughter of Jerome Cavanagh, former Mayor of Detroit in the 60s & one of the first political figures to publicly challenge racial inequities, as well as grand-daughter of Sylvester Cavanagh, boilermaker & cofounder of the UAW. I also am a proud first-generation American on my mother's side from Mexico.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My paternal grandfather, uncles, and father have worked as Detroit Mayor, Wayne County Commissioners, and State Representatives but do not currently hold political office. I currently have paternal Uncles serving as Justices on the Appellate and Juvenile Court in Michigan. My paternal 2nd Cousin, Megan Cavanagh, serves as a Michigan Supreme Court Justice. My mother, Lily Cavanagh, is currently serving as Treasurer in Redford Twp.

Age

31 years old

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Currently was elected and serving as State House Representative for HD10 which includes Northwest Detroit & Redford Township (2020-current). Current Commissioner on Redford Twp., Diversity and Inclusion Commission (2021-current). Formerly elected and running as Precinct Delegate (2016-2018; 2022-?). Current appointed to the Executive Board of the MDP Women's Caucus (2014-current) and Officer-at-Large in the MDP Youth Caucus (2020-current).

Why are you seeking this office?

It has been over 2-years since the wake of the pandemic turned our lives upside-down and in that time, we have seen challenges go well beyond a virus- widening economic inequalities, lack of basic healthcare, threats to our voting rights, and years of underfunding for our future generations.
With so many advances we have made in the last 18-months, we cannot stop now. I am running for the State Senate because now more than ever we need hard-working, passionate, and dedicated individuals to represent and revitalize how we look at our laws, work force, and our communities.
With over 20-years of civic engagement and currently serving in the Legislature, I have built strong relationships across the aisle, with members, community leaders and more. As we forge a path to majority in the Senate, it is dire to elect bold leaders who can produce effective results. I am that candidate and ready to carry my advocacy, passion, and legislative priorities to the new 6th State Senate district.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Major differences include me currently serving in the State Legislature where I am pushing and on the frontlines of legislation right now, developing relationships with colleagues from both Chambers, as well as across the aisle. I currently sit on Tax Policy and Local Government pushing and having discussions right now for expanding Earned Income Tax Credit, repealing the retirement tax, fighting for reproductive freedom for all as Secretary of the Progressive Women's Caucus enabling me to be ready on day one, regardless of majority, to have the conversations and relationship in order to get much-needed legislation past both Chambers to the governor's desk. I am also the youngest candidate with 20 years community engagement experience while currently serving, makes me uniquely qualified to be an effective progressive member of the State Senate. I have also graduated Wayne State University with a degree in Anthropology where I focused on the study of the evolution of human behavior which has been vital in navigating such polarizing politics with a holistic lens on legislation that I work on, as well as, any legislation in the Chamber.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I did put my name in the race prior to the incumbent being taken off the ballot. I believe the lack of community engagement, bill introductions, fight for appropriation dollars for communities, as well as, lack of communication between leaders, stakeholders, and chambers failed the community that prompted me to challenge the former incumbent.

Do you think the federal government can or should do more to curb inflation, which has led to an increase in prices for food, gas and other goods?

Absolutely, I support Gov. Whitmer's request for Congress to suspend the federal gas tax and am glad President Biden has called for this necessary action to bring relief to our families. Our federal government should be doing more to shut down price gouging on everyday essentials, because while oil executives and large companies across the country have profited from higher prices, ordinary people have felt the harmful impacts of inflation in their daily lives. At a state level, I will continue to co-sponsor, sponsor, or support legislation that fight price gouging at the pump, stores, and other areas in our lives and communities.

Do you support changing the state’s constitution to ensure that women have to right to get an abortion?

Absolutely, as the Secretary of the Progressive Women's Caucus, I have been on the frontlines of this issue partnering with planned parenthood, ACLU, and other legislatures to, not only pass the Reproductive Health Act, but to also solidify Reproductive Freedom for All Amendment to the Constitutions reach the ballots to ensure that all individuals have the right to reproductive health, including abortions. The right to an abortion is the right to safe reproductive health and I will continue to introduce/support legislation that would preserve the individual's right to the reproductive healthcare they deserve.

Do you support the Raise the Wage ballot initiative, which would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027 and provide cost-of-living increases in later years?

I have and will continue to support the Raise the Wage initiative. Wages have not kept pace with the cost of housing, healthcare, education, emergency home repairs, and daily expenses like groceries or prescription drugs. Many people are forced to pick up second and third jobs to pay their bills, causing burnout, reduced time with family, and an inability to engage in the community. People who work full time should be able to afford everyday essentials, livable wages, and I believe raising the minimum wage is the first step in helping out working families establish financial security and develop generational wealth. To further support individuals struggling to pay their bills, I proudly support the expansion of the EITC and personally secured $1.5 million for emergency home repairs in my district and all of Wayne County. We must attack from every angle the systemic barriers which prevent Michiganders from building their wealth and living healthy, safe lives.

Would you support an election initiative to require another audit of the 2020 presidential election, to transfer authority over the audit from the Secretary of State to a newly created auditing panel, and to change how elections are reviewed in the future?

Secretary Benson and the entire State Department worked tirelessly to certify election results that Michiganders can have confidence in. We have no reason to transfer the authority of election oversight to a new department, and attempts to push this further promulgate the "Big Lie" that there was massive voter fraud. We were certain of our results in 2020, and we can expect to see continued confidence in the results of our elections as they are overseen by the Secretary of State. There are other ways we can celebrate voter turnout and continue to guarantee our elections are safe and secure. The disturbing rise of misinformation about our elections and their results prompted me to introduce HB 5948, which would impose a fine on individuals or entities who intentionally spread misinformation about elections, including a voter’s registration status, the time, place, or manner of an election, and a voter’s eligibility. We must shut down the harmful practice of deceiving voters and take a firm stance against disinformation, and that includes taking actions that suggest our current system of verifying results is inadequate. I will continue to remove barriers and promote easy access for voting for every Michigander to be able to exercise their right to vote while guaranteeing that every vote is counted.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Other issues I intend to address during my campaign and if elected into the State Senate are issues I am currently fighting for in the legislature that include prioritizing equitable education, protecting our seniors, improving healthcare for all Michiganders, and continuing to prioritize funding to invest in our infrastructure and the future of Michigan. Other priorities that I have championed in the legislature and will carry to the Senate include gun safety legislation, preserving and increasing access to voting rights, economic security, environmental protections and fighting against social injustices.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my first year in the legislature, I was able to work across the aisle in both chambers to pass a bipartisan bill package that helps our local municipalities and Michigan manufacturers. In addition, in my first year, I was able to garner one of the biggest member appropriations of 1.5 million dollars to my community and all of Wayne County to make resident's homes safer and secure generational wealth, while avoiding predatory lending practices. I was able to remove barriers to healthcare to help our most vulnerable populations throughout the communities I represented partnering with Wayne State University. In my tenure in the legislature, I was able to secure much-needed infrastructure funding to prevent flooding, ensure safe drinking water, and make our roads safer to drive on. Introduced, advocated, and championed legislation for unemployment reform, aging out of foster care, protecting our elections, prioritizing our veterans, lowering prescription drug costs, holding corporations accountable and securing historic equitable funding for education. I have also been appointed to leadership positions such as Deputy Leg. Democratic Chair, Secretary of the Progressive Women's Caucus, Chair of the Latino Caucus and effective members of Labor, Black, Homeless, Firearms and Safety, Senior Care Caucus and so much more that has positioned me on the frontlines of several important issues in order to start of Day 1 in the State Senate.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

You are only as good as your word.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Now more than ever our communities need a champion in the State Senate who is not afraid to stand-up and take action while producing effective results for our communities. From the blatant attack on our voting rights, reproductive freedom, and much-needed infrastructure reform, to more support for our veterans, seniors, educators, and frontline workers. I know that we can and must do more to deliver real results for our families and the future of Michigan. With the relationships I have made in Lansing as a State Representative to lasting partnerships in the community, I know I am the only candidate that will be the most effective where and when we need it most to deliver life-saving legislation in Michigan's new 6th Senate District.