Primary Challenge for Dharma Caucus Founder Rep. Shri Thanedar Gets Serious Following David Hogg’s Endorsement of Opponent

Six months after his controversial pledge to challenge sitting Democratic lawmakers triggered a leadership crisis and led to his departure from the Democratic National Committee, David Hogg made his first move on Monday, endorsing state Representative Donavan McKinney in a primary challenge against second-term U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.

The endorsement from Hogg’s group Leaders We Deserve marks a significant escalation in an internal Democratic battle over whether challenging incumbents in safe seats strengthens the party or creates destructive infighting.

“Shri Thanedar is exactly the kind of out-of-touch, ineffective, and out-for-himself incumbent we want to kick out,” Hogg’s group stated, according to Yahoo News.

Hogg caused a stir while serving as DNC vice chairman for advocating primarying perceived ineffective incumbent Democrats, according to the Washington Examiner. The controversy cost him his position in party leadership, but he vowed to continue through Leaders We Deserve.

CNN reported in May that Leaders We Deserve is planning to spend $20 million to boost young candidates, including some seeking to oust Democratic incumbents in safe seats. Until Monday, however, Hogg had yet to make good on his promise, according to the Washington Post.

Why Thanedar?

The choice reflects both strategic calculation and underlying tensions within Detroit politics. The Detroit-area district is without Black representation in Congress for the first time in decades, according to Michigan Public Radio.

McKinney is the second Detroit Democrat to enter the primary, joining former state Senator Adam Hollier. Detroit Democrats are once again trying to restore Black representation to the city by unseating an incumbent, as the party more broadly battles publicly over whether challenging their own is the right path forward, the Associated Press reported.

State Representative Donavan McKinney noted that the 11th state House District he currently represents is one of the poorest in Michigan, while the 13th Congressional District is among the poorest in the nation, according to Michigan Advance.

From Poverty in India to U.S. Congress

Thanedar’s personal story is one of dramatic upward mobility. Born on February 22, 1955, in Chikodi, Karnataka, India, according to the U.S. House of Representatives History, Art & Archives, Congressman Thanedar knows firsthand the struggles and stigma of poverty. At times his family home lacked running water and electricity, according to his official congressional biography.

Thanedar stated the Dharma Caucus “is a statement of commitment to stand against religious discrimination, to propel the wheels of inclusion, and to cultivate a nation where diversity is not only tolerated, but celebrated.”

He came to the U.S. in 1979 to pursue a doctorate at the University of Akron, according to the Detroit Regional Chamber. He earned his Ph.D. in 1982, completed postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan from 1982-1984, and later obtained an M.B.A. from Fontbonne University in St. Louis in 1987, according to House archives.

In 1991, Thanedar bought Chemir/Polytech Laboratories. By 2005, the company’s total revenues exceeded $20 million before he sold it, according to the Detroit Regional Chamber. He entered politics with an unsuccessful 2018 run for Michigan governor before winning election to the Michigan state house and then to Congress in 2022.

As an Indian American businessman representing a historically Black district in Detroit, Thanedar’s presence in Congress has sparked debate about representation, identity, and who can best serve the district’s predominantly African American constituency.

Hindu American Advocacy and Controversy

Thanedar has positioned himself as a prominent voice for Hindu American issues in Congress, though this has generated both support and controversy. In September 2023, Thanedar formally launched the Dharma Caucus, stating bipartisan support with 27 lawmakers joining as members from across 4 faiths. Thanedar stated the caucus “is a statement of commitment to stand against religious discrimination, to propel the wheels of inclusion, and to cultivate a nation where diversity is not only tolerated, but celebrated.”

The Tribune reported that over two dozen U.S. lawmakers joined the bipartisan Congressional Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain American Caucus when Thanedar formally launched it in September 2023.

Thanedar also introduced House Resolution 1131 addressing Hinduphobia. The Coalition of Hindus of North America praised the resolution as “a much required and overdue recognition of the contribution of Hindu Americans to the United States as well as a critical acknowledgement of the violence the community has faced in the past few years.”

However, these initiatives have drawn criticism from civil rights organizations. NBC News reported that several South Asian American civil rights groups criticized the formation of the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain American Congressional Caucus, saying they’re worried marginalized groups are being left out.

South Asian advocacy groups including Hindus for Human Rights, Sikh Coalition, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Emgage, and Indian American Muslim Council put out a joint statement voicing concern on the lack of input from the community in forming the caucus. Hindus for Human Rights condemned the introduction of H.Res.1131, stating the resolution “does not represent us.”

The Washington Post reported that Thanedar’s move to create the “Dharma Caucus” raised eyebrows for Hindu Americans concerned with the American political courtship of members of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party. Middle East Eye noted that a growing movement has emerged to challenge U.S. lawmakers for apparent connections to Hindu nationalist organizations.

Challengers are hoping to restore Black representation to the city by unseating the incumbent, a former St. Louis businessman, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

McKinney’s challenge has attracted support beyond Hogg’s group. He announced in April that he is launching his campaign with the backing of Justice Democrats, making him the first candidate running in the 2026 Democratic primaries with that organization’s support, according to Salon.

Justice Democrats is going on offense for the first time since 2022 as anti-incumbency groups try to harness grassroots anger, according to Axios. The organization previously helped elect Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her shocking 2018 primary upset.

NBC News reported in April that McKinney’s campaign represents the left seeking to flex its muscle in Michigan.

Hogg’s organization explicitly frames its mission around supporting younger candidates who can bring fresh energy to Congress. The criticism of Thanedar as “out-of-touch” and “ineffective” echoes arguments that some Democrats have lost connection with constituents and the party’s evolving priorities.

Republicans have seized on the intra-party fighting. The National Republican Congressional Committee described Hogg as an “unhinged radical” and characterized the endorsement as “Democrat leaders get mauled by their own radical base,” according to an NRCC statement.

The Republican messaging attempts to paint Democratic primary challenges as evidence of extremism, though Democrats counter that internal competition in safe districts is healthy democratic renewal.

What’s at Stake

As Hogg’s first endorsement against a sitting Democrat, the race will test whether his controversial strategy can succeed. A McKinney victory would vindicate his approach and potentially embolden similar challenges elsewhere. A Thanedar win would reinforce arguments that primarying incumbents wastes resources and creates unnecessary divisions.

For the Democratic Party, the race encapsulates fundamental question— whether the party should prioritize unity or embrace competition even in safe seats. With $20 million in planned spending and a mission to support young challengers, Leaders We Deserve appears positioned to become a significant force in Democratic primaries. Whether that force proves constructive or destructive remains contentious.

Supporters argue that challenging ineffective incumbents improves the party’s quality and responsiveness. Critics warn that primary battles drain resources, create lasting divisions, and risk nominating less electable candidates.

The Michigan 13th District primary in 2026 won’t definitively answer these questions, but as the first test of Hogg’s post-DNC strategy, it will provide important signals about whether Democratic voters are receptive to arguments for unseating incumbents.

As the 2026 campaign unfolds, the battle for Michigan’s 13th District will test whether David Hogg’s vision of Democratic renewal through internal competition can translate from controversial theory into electoral reality.

This story was aggregated by AI from several news reports and edited by American Kahani’s News Desk.