Mari Manoogian Explained

Mari Manoogian
State House:Michigan
District:40th
Term Start:January 1, 2019
Term End:December 31, 2022
Predecessor:Mike McCready
Successor:Christine Morse
Birth Date:3 September 1992
Birth Place:Birmingham, Michigan, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:George Washington University (BA, MA)
Website:

Mari Manoogian (born September 3, 1992) is an American politician from Michigan who represented the 40th District in the Michigan House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, her constituency included several communities within Oakland County, including Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, and part of West Bloomfield Township.[1]

Early life and education

Manoogian was born in Birmingham, Michigan as the eldest daughter of a utility worker and union leader, and a vocational rehabilitation specialist.[2] After graduating from Ernest W. Seaholm High School in 2010,[3] Manoogian began her undergraduate work at Michigan State University's James Madison College. She moved to Washington, D.C. in 2012, and finished her bachelor's degree in international relations and security policy at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs in 2014, and earned a master's degree in global communication and international organizations from the same institution in 2017.[4] [5] [6] [7]

Manoogian's family are descendants of survivors of the Armenian genocide.[8] She is a member of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Dearborn.

Career

During her undergraduate studies, Manoogian interned in the office of Congressman John Dingell and at the United States Mission to the United Nations under Ambassador Samantha Power. She began work in Washington, D.C. at the United States Department of State, first in the Office of English Language Programs and later in the Office of eDiplomacy, before returning to Michigan and running for office.[9]

Manoogian began campaigning for election to the Michigan House of Representatives in August 2017. Receiving the endorsement of national progressive candidate recruitment organization Run for Something,[10] Manoogian won the Democratic primary in August 2018, defeating the 2016 Democratic nominee for the 40th District, Nicole Bedi.[11] During the general election, Manoogian was endorsed by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former 2016 U.S. Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton.[12] [13] Manoogian defeated David Wolkinson – former vice chairman of the Michigan Republican Party and policy director to Governor Rick Snyder – by 56.5% to 43.4%, flipping the district for the first time in 22 years.[14] [15] [16]

Manoogian was selected as one of seventeen speakers to jointly deliver the keynote address at the 2020 Democratic National Convention nominating Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.[17]

Political positions

Manoogian supports repealing the state Senior Pension Tax and expanding investment in renewable energy practices.[18] She has been profiled by national and local news outlets in the lead-up to her election for supporting funding for clean water initiatives in her district.[19] She considers herself a progressive.[20]

Campaigns

2018

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Election 2018: 26-year-old Democrat flips Michigan State House... . Haddad . Ken . www.clickondetroit.com . en-US . November 8, 2018 .
  2. News: From pot to roads, 40th District hopefuls share their views. HometownLife. 2018-11-10. en.
  3. News: Mari for MI Democrat for State Representative in Michigan House District 40. 2018-11-10.
  4. News: Mari Manoogian Wins Democratic Primary as Candidate for Michigan State Rep - The Armenian Mirror-Spectator . Mirror-Spectator . The Armenian . August 10, 2018 . The Armenian Mirror-Spectator . November 8, 2018 . en-US .
  5. News: Mari Manoogian Launches Bid for State Representative in Michigan's 40th District . August 23, 2017 . The Armenian Weekly . November 8, 2018 . en-US .
  6. News: Oakland County becomes epicenter of fight to control Michigan House . Detroit News . November 8, 2018 . en .
  7. News: Mari Manoogian - Run For Something. Run For Something. 2018-11-10. en-US.
  8. News: State Rep-Elect Mari Manoogian on Twitter. Twitter. 2018-11-10. en.
  9. News: Mari Manoogian Launches Bid for State Representative in Michigan's 40th District. 2017-08-23. The Armenian Weekly. 2018-11-10. en-US.
  10. News: How women candidates will run on the Republican anti-abortion record in 2018. en . Mic . Drabold . Will . 20 January 2018 . 22 September 2021 .
  11. News: Manoogian Wins Democratic Primary in Michigan. 2018-08-08. The Armenian Weekly. 2018-11-10. en-US.
  12. News: Obama endorses Whitmer, Slotkin, Stevens, other Mich. Dems. Oosting. Jonathan. October 1, 2018. The Detroit News. October 15, 2018.
  13. Web site: Hillary Rodham Clinton endorses 19 RFS candidates. Something. Run for. 2018-10-29. Run for Something. 2018-11-10.
  14. News: Voters in Birmingham go Democratic in state House race. HometownLife. 2018-11-10. en . Veselenak . David . 7 November 2018.
  15. News: It's Wolkinson, Manoogian for November's state House race in Birmingham, Bloomfield. HometownLife. 2018-11-10. en . Veselenak . David . 9 August 2018.
  16. Web site: Oakland - Election Results. results.enr.clarityelections.com. 2018-11-10.
  17. Web site: Democrats Unveil A New Kind of Convention Keynote . 2020 Democratic National Convention . 16 August 2020 . 16 August 2020 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200817123930/https://www.demconvention.com/press-releases/democrats-unveil-a-new-kind-of-convention-keynote/ . 17 August 2020.
  18. News: Mari for MI Democrat for State Representative in Michigan House District 40. October 16, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190614215511/https://www.mariformi.com/issues/ . 14 June 2019.
  19. News: Vice News Tonight, S03 E179 . VICE News examines how Michigan-area organizers are leveraging local concerns about clean water to encourage voter participation. . VICE News .
  20. News: Trump won the Rust Belt with macho. These women hope to win with change. . Vox . November 8, 2018 . North . Anna . 31 October 2018.