Former Michigan state lawmaker Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian Origin, has won the Democratic nomination to run unopposed for a House seat, setting her up to become the first Muslim American woman elected to Congress.
No Republicans or third-party candidates ran in Tuesday's District 13 primary race, meaning Tlaib is set to win the seat in November's election.
She would take the spot held since 1965 by John Conyers, who stepped down in December citing health reasons amid charges of sexual harassment.
A special primary race to serve the last two months of Conyers' term is still too close to call.
Tlaib and Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones are neck and neck. The winner of that race will also run unopposed in November's election.
She said Tuesday that her day had been filled with emotion. It is a “happy chaos,” she told The Detroit News.
Tlaib, the daughter of two Palestinian immigrants, was born in Detroit in 1976. She studied politics at Wayne State University, and then law, graduating in 2004.
