Detroit director of entrepreneurship and economic opportunity announces bid for state Senate

Justin Onwenu, an attorney, community organizer and appointee to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Black Leadership Council announced his intention on Tuesday to claim Michigan’s newly redrawn 1st Senate District.

The seat is currently held by state Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Troy), who cannot run in 2026 due to term limits. Onwenu, Detroit’s first director of entrepreneurship and economic opportunity and an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, is the first Democratic candidate to declare in the race. 

The 1st Senate District is located in Wayne County and includes part of Detroit, Ecorse, Lincoln Park, River Rouge and Wyandotte. It is considered a strong Democratic seat, though Lincoln Park and Wyandotte were split between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

“Michigan needs new and effective leaders ready to bring people together and deliver,” Onwenu said in a statement. “In the State Senate, I’ll work to unite Detroit and Downriver to help rebuild our economy, invest in our neighborhoods, and clean up our government to work for all of us.”

Onwenu pointed to the state’s rising costs and job loss rates, federal budget cuts, the need for neighborhood investment and state government transparency as challenges he hopes to address in the Senate. 

Onwenu’s campaign has also received several notable endorsements from local officials, including the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, former U.S. Rep. Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township), and state Reps. Joe Tate (D-Detroit), Helena Scott (D-Detroit) and Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit).