Debbie Dingell easily wins Michigan's 12th district primary
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell easily won the Democratic primary in Michigan's 12th District, all but paving the way for her re-election to another term in a district boasting one of the largest populations of Arab Americans in the US.
Dingell led her rival Solomon Rajput - a 28-year-old medical student and political newcomer - 81 percent to 19 percent with more than 90 percent of the voting centres in the district reporting, according to the New York Times.
"Thank you to every member of Team Dingell. Whether you made a contribution, volunteered with us, or supported us in the community, you made this happen!" she tweeted on Wednesday.
Dingell took over the seat from her husband, the late Democratic Congressman John Dingell, in 2015. She is co-chairwoman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.
Throughout the election, Dingell, 66, maintained widespread support in the district's Muslim and Arab communities.
With Dearborn, a city within the 12th district, hosting a sizable Yemeni-American population, Dingell received endorsements from several Detroit-based newspapers, including the Arab American News, and the Yemeni American News.
Since assuming office, the congresswoman has voted in favour of blocking arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and voted to end the US role in the war in Yemen.
"The war in Yemen has cost thousands of lives and created a devastating humanitarian crisis, and US participation in this conflict was never authorised by Congress," Dingell said in 2018.
While Rajput ran a progressive grassroots campaign with a platform including a complete ban on assault rifles, tuition-free college and an overhaul of affordable housing, he ultimately fell short on election day.
In the general election in November, Dingell will face Republican candidate Jeff Jones, whom she soundly defeated in both 2016 and 2018.
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