Axios Detroit

August 07, 2024
It's Wednesday.
☀️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny and a high of 78.
Today's newsletter is 862 words — a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: Primary election results
Michigan's U.S. Senate race this fall will pit Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin against Republican former congressman Mike Rogers.
The big picture: Given Michigan's swing state status and the narrowly divided U.S. Senate, the contest between Slotkin and Rogers will be among the closest-watched in the country.
- The general election winner will replace Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who is retiring.
Zoom in: Slotkin was leading businessman Hill Harper, 77%-23%, as of about 5am today with 88% of expected votes reported, and Rogers had about 63% of votes in the Republican primary as of that time.
- The AP called both races at about 9pm last night.
What they're saying: "This election is the most consequential election, I think, in my lifetime," Rogers told supporters last night at a bar in Lake Orion after the race was called, according to the Detroit News.
Meanwhile, incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar won the Democratic primary for Detroit's 13th District U.S. House seat, with the race called at 2am today by the AP.
- Thanedar had nearly 55% of the vote as of 4am, with 77% of votes counted, over Detroit City Council member Mary Waters, who was endorsed by Mayor Mike Duggan and received 34% of the vote so far. Attorney Shakira Lynn Hawkins received 11%.
Catch up quick: Thanedar snapped Detroit's 70-year streak of Black representation in Congress after defeating a loaded field of Black candidates two years ago.
- The 13th District includes parts of Detroit and Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Highland Park, the Grosse Pointes, Melvindale, Lincoln Park, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Wayne, River Rouge and Wyandotte.
The other side: Republican Martell Bivings was the lone Republican candidate. He'll face the winner of yesterday's primary in November.
State of play: Rep. Rashida Tlaib had no Democratic challenger in the 12th District, which includes parts of Detroit, Dearborn, Southfield and western Wayne County.
Plus: Many Wayne County races hadn't yet been called as of 6am, though Detroit's library millage renewal was leading with 85% of the vote.
What's next: Vice President Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will hold a rally tonight at Detroit Metro Airport, the Free Press reports.
2. Home sellers dropping prices


Nearly a quarter of houses for sale in Metro Detroit saw price cuts recently, according to Redfin data.
Why it matters: Home sellers across the country are increasingly offering discounts to entice buyers hampered by high housing costs.
Flashback: Price cuts surged nationwide in 2022, partly because rising mortgage rates caused home shoppers to back out of the market.
Zoom in: The share of homes in Metro Detroit with sellers cutting their prices has ranged from 20% in December to 24% in May, the most recent month available from Redfin.
- Before that, the last couple of years, that share has ranged up and down.
What they're saying: "Houses are not selling as fast, so because of that, people are dropping prices to create interest in their property, but it's not a significant enough change to establish a trend," Darralyn Bowers, a longtime realtor and president of Southfield-based Bowers Realty, tells Axios.
- Bowers says when sellers' properties haven't sold in 30 days, she goes back to the marketplace and evaluates other homes, plus the number of offers received and showings. If there isn't enough interest, they will discuss price change or other incentives to entice buyers.
Zoom out: "A [national] housing market that for years has been defined by fast sales and few options is starting to look more like it did before the pandemic in terms of competition among buyers and their negotiating power," Zillow chief economist Skylar Olsen says.
What's next: Many real estate agents expect competition to heat up once summer vacation ends and kids are back in school.
3. The Grapevine: You heard it here
🏠 Low-income older residents and people with disabilities can apply for a $6.6 million home repair program to provide accessibility upgrades such as ramps, lifts and grab bars. (BridgeDetroit)
🥊 CrowdStrike is fighting back against Delta Air Lines' claims that the cybersecurity vendor didn't provide enough assistance during its recent global IT outage. (Axios)
🏈 Lions cornerback Emmanuel Moseley is out indefinitely after tearing a pectoral muscle in practice this week. Moseley appeared in just one game for Detroit last season due to a torn right ACL. The season prior, he tore his left ACL. (ESPN)
4. Baldwin honored in new exhibition
Late writer and activist James Baldwin is being celebrated for his 100th birthday with an exhibition at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
The big picture: A traveling exhibition called "Frontline Prophet: James Baldwin," from Detroit-based artist Sabrina Nelson, is on display through February.
- It's a "deeply personal" look at Baldwin, including a seven-year sketchbook study, projected videos and augmented reality, according to the Wright.
Zoom out: As part of a wider commemoration of Baldwin's impact, the city and public library plan to open 10 little sidewalk libraries around the city that include Baldwin books, according to a news release.
Catch up quick: Harlem-born Baldwin was a prolific novelist, essayist and playwright whose work confronted the United States' legacy of racism and became a voice for generations.
- His work also, controversially at the time, addressed queer themes.
This newsletter was edited by Delano Massey and copy edited by Cindy Orosco-Wright.
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