Abraham Aiyash
{{Short description|American politician (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Abraham Aiyash
| native_name = {{small|{{nobold|أبراهام عياش}}}}
| office = Majority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives
| term_start = January 1, 2023
| term_end = January 8, 2025
| predecessor = Ben Frederick
| successor = Bryan Posthumus
| office1 = Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
| term_start1 = December 1, 2020
| term_end1 = December 31, 2024
| predecessor1 = Isaac Robinson
| successor1 = Joe Tate (redistricting)
|constituency1 = 4th district (2020–2022)
9th district (2023–2024)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|1|20}}
| birth_place = Hamtramck, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = Michigan State University (BA)
| website = {{url|voteaiyash.com|Campaign website}}
}}
Abraham Aiyash (Arabic: أبراهام عياش) is an American politician who served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2020 to 2024.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-06 |title=Status quo in Wayne County and State Reps races, newcomers to universities' boards |url=https://www.arabamericannews.com/2020/11/06/status-quo-in-wayne-county-and-state-reps-races-newcomers-to-universities-boards/ |access-date=2020-11-11 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=US elections 2020: Muslim American candidates who made history |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-elections-muslim-americans-historic-wins |access-date=2020-11-11 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}} A member of the Democratic Party, Aiyash served as the chamber's majority floor leader.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-11 |title=Abraham Aiyash selected as House majority floor leader as Democrats take control of the legislature |url=https://arabamericannews.com/2022/11/11/abraham-aiyash-selected-as-house-majority-floor-leader-as-dems-take-control-of-legislature/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Arab American News |language=en-US}} He represented 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.{{Cite web |title=About Aiyash |url=https://www.voteaiyash.com/about-aiyash |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=Abraham Aiyash for State Representative District 4 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2020-11-21 |title=Abraham Aiyash sworn in as first Yemeni American State Rep. |url=https://yemeniamerican.com/en/abraham-aiyash-sworn-in-as-first-yemeni-american-state-rep/ |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=The Yemeni American |language=ar}}
Career
When he was 13, Aiyash worked as a community organizer for the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-17 |title=Abraham Aiyash is Running for District 4 State Representative. |url=https://yemeniamerican.com/en/abraham-aiyash-is-running-for-district-4-state-representative/ |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=The Yemeni American |language=ar}} In 2015 and 2016, he worked in the office of State Rep. Rose Mary Robinson.{{Cite web |title=Meet Rep. Aiyash |url=https://housedems.com/abraham-aiyash/about/ |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=housedems.com |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |title=All Detroit Free Press endorsements for the 2020 general election |url=https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/editorials/2020/10/15/detroit-free-press-endorsements-election-2020/5915128002/ |access-date=2020-11-11 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}
Abraham announced his candidacy for the 4th district of the Michigan House of Representatives following the death of Isaac Robinson in March 2020.{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2020 |title=State Rep. Isaac Robinson dies of suspected coronavirus infection |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/obituaries/state-rep-isaac-robinson-dies-suspected-coronavirus-infection |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=Crain's Detroit Business |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2020 |title=State Rep Isaac Robinson dead at 44; mom suspects COVID-19 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/State-Rep-Isaac-Robinson-dead-at-44-mom-suspects-15165371.php |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=seattlepi.com}}{{Cite web |last=Zhao |first=Christina |date=March 29, 2020 |title=Michigan state Rep. Isaac Robinson dies from suspected coronavirus infection in Detroit |url=https://www.newsweek.com/michigan-state-rep-isaac-robinson-dies-suspected-coronavirus-infection-detroit-1494924 |access-date=March 30, 2020 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2020 |title=State Rep. Isaac Robinson dead at 44; mom suspects COVID-19 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/State-Rep-Isaac-Robinson-dead-at-44-mom-suspects-15165371.php |website=SFGate.com}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Abraham Aiyash |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Abraham_Aiyash |access-date=2020-12-18 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}
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.
Aiyash did not run for reelection in 2024.{{Cite news|last=King|first=Jon|title=Meijer withdraws from Senate race, Aiyash won’t seek another state House term|url=https://michiganadvance.com/2024/04/26/meijer-withdraws-from-senate-race-aiyash-wont-seek-another-state-house-term/|date=April 26, 2024|website=Michigan Advance|access-date=May 4, 2024|archive-date=April 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427064336/https://michiganadvance.com/2024/04/26/meijer-withdraws-from-senate-race-aiyash-wont-seek-another-state-house-term/|url-status=live}} He was succeeded by Joe Tate in the 9th district,{{cite web|title=2024 Michigan Election Results|url=https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=11-5-2024|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=November 24, 2024|date=November 22, 2024|url-status=live|archive-date=November 24, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241124174348/https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=11-5-2024}} which had been redistricted due to a legal challenge.{{cite news |last1=Hendrickson |first1=Clara |title=Court orders metro Detroit legislative maps redrawn |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2023/12/21/court-orders-redraw-of-detroit-area-legislative-districts/71382879007/ |access-date=January 3, 2025 |work=Detroit Free Press}}
Political positions
Aiyash has shown support for clean energy, legislation against pollution and other issues surrounding the environmental and public health.{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Kyle |date=2023-03-27 |title=Energy, clean water and pollution top list of environmental priorities for House Dems ⋆ Michigan Advance |url=https://michiganadvance.com/2023/03/27/energy-clean-water-and-pollution-top-list-of-environmental-priorities-for-house-dems/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Michigan Advance |language=en-US}}
Aiyash has advanced legislation aimed at gun reform to curb gun violence.{{Cite web |last1=Schuster |first1=Simon |last2=Burr |first2=Alyssa |date=2023-02-14 |title=Michigan State mass shooting sends gun reform laws to top of Democrats' agenda |url=https://www.mlive.com/politics/2023/02/michigan-state-mass-shooting-sends-gun-reform-laws-to-top-of-democrats-agenda.html |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=mlive |language=en}} Aiyash has proposed legislation to make Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr state holidays.{{Cite web |last=Coleman |first=Ken |date=2023-04-25 |title=Legislators announce bill package to recognize new state holidays ⋆ Michigan Advance |url=https://michiganadvance.com/2023/04/25/legislators-announce-bill-package-to-recognize-new-state-holidays/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Michigan Advance |language=en-US}}
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.{{cite web |date=17 March 2023 |title=Rep. Aiyash supports civil rights expansion |url=http://www.thehamtramckreview.com/rep-aiyash-supports-civil-rights-expansion/ |access-date=28 June 2023 |website=Rep. Aiyash supports civil rights expansion |publisher=The Hamtramck Review}}
On October 12, 2023, 5 days after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, in which 1,195 Israelis were killed{{cite web |title="I Can't Erase All the Blood from My Mind" |url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/07/17/i-cant-erase-all-blood-my-mind/palestinian-armed-groups-october-7-assault-israel |website=Human Rights Watch |access-date=23 March 2025 |language=en |date=17 July 2024}}{{cite news |title=Israel's Dead: The Names of Those Killed in Hamas Attacks, Massacres and the Israel-Hamas War |url=https://www.haaretz.com/haaretz-explains/2023-10-19/ty-article-magazine/israels-dead-the-names-of-those-killed-in-hamas-massacres-and-the-israel-hamas-war/0000018b-325c-d450-a3af-7b5cf0210000res-and-the-israel-hamas-war/0000018b-325c-d450-a3af-7b5cf0210000?gift=e628c1c232a14612b2948ac85a39a1c4 |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=Haaretz |date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240803235317/https://www.haaretz.com/haaretz-explains/2023-10-19/ty-article-magazine/israels-dead-the-names-of-those-killed-in-hamas-massacres-and-the-israel-hamas-war/0000018b-325c-d450-a3af-7b5cf0210000 |archive-date=August 3, 2024 |quote=Approximately 1,200 Israelis, civilians and soldiers were killed in their homes, communities and in confronting Hamas terrorists. Here are the officially confirmed names of Israel's dead in the atrocities of October 7 and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war ... This list of 1618 names will be continuously updated with names that have been cleared for publication.}}{{efn|name="last victim"|Includes the remains for the last victim which were not found until August 6, 2024{{cite news |title=IDF confirms Bilha Yinon, listed as missing, was murdered on October 7 |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rknhbzg5r |date=August 6, 2024 |first1=Yoav |last1=Zitun |first2=Matan |last2=Tzuri |work=Ynet |access-date=August 7, 2024 |archive-date=August 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808052155/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rknhbzg5r |url-status=live}}}}, of which 815 were civilians,{{efn|79 foreign nationals}} including 36 children, 3,400 civilians and soldiers wounded, and 251 civilians and soldiers taken captive{{Cite news |date=November 2, 2023 |title=IDF says it has notified families of 242 hostages being held in Gaza |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |work=The Times of Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-has-notified-families-of-242-hostages-being-held-in-gaza/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102100112/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-has-notified-families-of-242-hostages-being-held-in-gaza/ |url-status=live}}, Aiyash opposed a resolution calling for the support of Israel and condemnation of the attack, 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.”{{cite web | url=https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/12/bipartisan-michigan-house-resolution-to-condemn-violence-in-israel-may-be-doomed/ | title=Bipartisan Michigan House resolution to condemn violence in Israel may be doomed ⋆ Michigan Advance | date=October 12, 2023 }}
Electoral history
{{Election box open primary begin no change| title= 2020 Michigan House of Representatives election, District 4{{Cite web |title=Michigan State House of Representatives District 4 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_House_of_Representatives_District_4 |access-date=August 5, 2020 |publisher=Ballotpedia}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Abraham Aiyash
| votes = 5,352
| percentage = 38.3
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Michele Oberholtzer
| votes = 1,946
| percentage = 13.9
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Tawanna Simpson
| votes = 1,520
| percentage = 10.9
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Tonya Myers Phillips
| votes = 1,419
| percentage = 10.2
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Delorean Holmes
| votes = 1,003
| percentage = 7.2
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Shahab Ahmed
| votes = 835
| percentage = 6.0
| change =
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 13,962
| percentage = 100
| change =
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Abraham Aiyash|votes=27,263|percentage=89.7}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Howard Weathington|votes=1,736|percentage=5.7}}
{{Election box candidate no change|party=Working Class Party|candidate=Linda Rayburn|votes=1,027|percentage=3.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent|candidate=MD Rabbi Alam|votes=355|percentage=1.2}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes =30,377
| percentage =100
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change| title= 2018 Michigan Senate election, District 2{{Cite web |title=Michigan State Senate District 2 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_State_Senate_District_2 |access-date=May 15, 2020 |publisher=Ballotpedia}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Adam Hollier
| votes = 6,938
| percentage = 25.2
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Abraham Aiyash
| votes = 5,766
| percentage = 21.0
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Brian Banks
| votes = 4,725
| percentage = 17.2
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Regina Williams
| votes = 2,598
| percentage = 9.5
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = LaMar Lemmons Jr.
| votes = 2,512
| percentage = 9.1
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = John Olumba
| votes = 1,747
| percentage = 6.4
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = George Cushingberry Jr.
| votes = 1,121
| percentage = 4.1
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Anam Miah
| votes = 931
| percentage = 3.4
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Lawrence Gannan
| votes = 555
| percentage = 2.0
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = William Phillips
| votes = 328
| percentage = 1.2
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Tommy Campbell
| votes = 265
| percentage = 1.0
| change =
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 27,486
| percentage = 100
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://ballotpedia.org/Abraham_Aiyash Abraham Aiyash at ballotpedia.org]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-mi-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Ben Frederick}}
{{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives|years=2023–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Bryan Posthumus}}
{{s-end}}
{{Michigan House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aiyash, Abraham}}
Category:21st-century members of the Michigan Legislature
Category:Activists from Detroit
Category:American activists for Palestinian solidarity
Category:American LGBTQ rights activists
Category:American politicians of Yemeni descent
Category:Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from Michigan
Category:Michigan State University alumni