Jeffries joins Hines for roundtable on community concerns in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District

In southern Macomb County, faith leaders and local government officials sat down with former special victims prosecutor Christina Hines and U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) to share the concerns they’ve heard from their communities and offer approaches Congress could take to better serve the people.

Gathering at Love Life Family Christian Center in Eastpointe, panelists from communities and congregations throughout Michigan’s 10th Congressional District pointed to a variety of concerns ranging from education to gun violence to ensuring people of all ages have access to community resources and support.

While the district is represented by U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), James’ decision to run for governor has left the seat open. Democrats have taken this as an opportunity to expand their ranks, with the goal of regaining a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Voters selected Hines to carry the torch for Democrats into November, with U.S. Army Capt. Michael Bouchard Jr., who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, representing the Republican side of the ticket. While the district was initially considered to lean Republican, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report updated its rating to “toss up” at the end of August, signaling a highly competitive congressional race in the months to come.

At the start of the roundtable, Hines noted her excitement for panelists to share the concerns of their communities with Jeffries, who arrived partway through the panel due to a flight delay, and with her so that she could take those issues to Washington.

Members of the roundtable were also asked what they would like to see Congress do better and what questions they had for Jeffries, who could potentially become Speaker of the House if Democrats regain control of the chamber in November.

Here are some of their responses.

Pastor Kevin Lancaster of Love Life Family Christian Center

Opening the roundtable, Lancaster said that education was a key concern for Macomb County, particularly in Eastpointe. 

“That’s one of the biggest indicators of poverty, is a lack of education, and yet our schools in Eastpointe are crumbling,” Lancaster said, before inquiring about what solutions Democrats are proposing to help schools perform.

Theresa McGarity, Mount Clemens city commissioner

McGarity, who also works for the Macomb Community Action Center, listed accessibility to public resources as among the challenges she’d observed within her city and the county, noting that programs to assist residents are increasingly moving online. 

“Everybody don’t have a computer. Everybody can’t use a smartphone. And our seniors want to remain independent. They don’t want to have to call their children when they can do things themselves,” McGarity said, adding that seniors had also faced challenges with transportation to the library so they could have access to a computer to utilize those community resources.

Funding for senior services was also important, McGarity said, pointing to the need for one-on-one assistance to help them access programs that can assist with home weatherization, housing rehabilitation, utilities and food.

Jocelyn Howard, executive director of Citadel of Perpetual Learning

Howard brought up three concerns, beginning with how artificial intelligence will impact frontline workers, noting her organization does training and development work in support of schools and the automotive industry.

She also noted the need for Congress to recapture the nation’s purse strings and asked what Democrats would do to bring resources back into communities that had been stripped away by the Trump Administration.

Michael Howard, Macomb County commissioner

While discussing top-of-mind concerns heading into the midterm elections, Howard called out the need for resources in Black communities.

“I don’t know why it’s become fearful to say we need resources in Black communities,” Howard said. “I mean, we say it, but the folks that represent us are scared to talk about bringing resources to Black communities when we know that when the tide and the water rises in Black communities, all ships rise. When we do well, everyone in this nation does well.”

Putting it plainly, Howard said this means money to invest in communities, specifically noting the need for more resources for schools.

Howard also called out tariffs as a threat to the auto industry, while noting his own personal concerns in addressing gun violence. 

“We’re seeing kids in our community getting a hold of unsecure firearms, which is a problem that we have to address,” Howard said. “There needs to be some better laws around that, and especially to protect domestic violence victims as well.”

He also noted that being present in the community is vital for a representative. 

“I don’t know if you’ve talked to my congressmember, but I’ve seen him four times maybe, and since he’s ever been elected or running for office,” Howard told Jeffries. “And if we ever needed anything, we had to reach out to Senator Peters, who is more present in my community than my own congressmember, and the whole point of Congress was to be our voice and our representative.”

There is an increasing disconnect between what happens in D.C. and what happens on the ground in communities, Howard said, noting that when residents at the local level try to elevate their issues and concerns, it feels like they fall on deaf ears.

Spencer Calhoun, Mount Clemens city commissioner

Calhoun told Hines that affordability was a major concern, with rising gas, grocery and utility costs placing an increased strain on the community. 

That strain has been made worse by policies at the federal level, Calhoun said, stating that the current Republican-led administration has delivered tax cuts for wealthy individuals and corporations at the expense of working-class folks.

Healthcare was also among Calhoun’s concerns, as he pointed to Medicaid changes requiring states to redetermine recipients’ eligibility every six months rather than once a year.

“You have to learn to get really good at doing paperwork, otherwise, you’re gonna lose your healthcare,” Calhoun said. “People who are eligible for their benefits are not going to receive them just because they won’t be able to keep up.”

In offering feedback for Congress, Calhoun called for leaders to make space to listen to residents, and to turn those concerns into action.

He also closed out the roundtable by asking Jeffries how the panelists, as community leaders, young people and Black leaders, could work with Hines to support work in Washington to hold President Donald Trump accountable and lower costs.

Jeffries, Hines pledge action over costs, community resources and accountability

Jeffries said affordability would be a top priority for House Democrats and pointed to several provisions within congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act the caucus would like to see reversed to help address those concerns.

“We believe we need to reverse these Medicaid cuts,” Jeffries said. “We need to reverse the largest cut to SNAP that was also part of the One Big Ugly Bill that literally is ripping food out of the mouths of hungry children and seniors and veterans. It’s a disgrace, and we’ll fight that battle right at the top of the new Congress.”

Democrats will also fight to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expired Dec. 31, 2025, Jeffries said, noting that people across the country are facing higher insurance premiums as a result.

Accountability will also be a major focus.

“If you’ve been stealing from the American people, screwing over the American people, shortchanging the American people — beginning on day one, we’re going to hold the crooks accountable,” Jeffries said.

Hines also encouraged those in attendance to keep in contact as she works to rally voters ahead of Election Day and beyond.

“For many of you, this is not the first time you’ve already seen me, right? But I want to keep this communication going,” Hines said, adding that many of the things discussed at the forum were also important to her family. 

“And so we are going to be fighting together, lockstep, marching together,” Hines said.