Summary
Kristen McDonald Rivet (born July 11, 1970) is an American politician who is a member of the Michigan Senate for the 35th district. She was elected in November 2022 and took office on January 1, 2023.
McDonald Rivet was born on July 11, 1970, in Portland, Michigan,[1] where she was raised with her fraternal twin sister Karen McDonald. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in education and public administration from the University of Michigan–Flint.
OnAir Post: Kristen McDonald Rivet
News
Michigan voters have already started casting ballots ahead of the August primary.
Perhaps the biggest contest on the ballot is the Democratic race in the 8th Congressional District.
Last November, incumbent Democratic congressman Dan Kildee surprised many when he announced he would not seek re-election in 2024.
The decision marked the end of decades of Kildee family control of the mid-Michigan congressional seat, and possibly along with it, a half century of Democratic control of the seat representing Flint.
About
Overview
Growing up in a small town in Michigan, Kristen McDonald Rivet was raised in a working-class, Catholic household that valued hard work, education and service to others.
For most of Kristen’s childhood, her Mom stayed home to care for Kristen, her twin sister Karen, and her older sister Lisa-Marie. Kristen’s Dad worked construction, often clocking in 70 to 80 hours a week. When the construction season slowed down and it got cold, he worked snow removal to make ends meet. Like many people in this district, he showered at the end of his work day not before. Her Dad wasn’t afraid to get calluses on his hands through a tough day’s work.
Kristen and her sisters were the first generation in the family to go to college, with their Mom joining them at the same time Kristen started at Michigan State University. Later, Kristen got her master’s degree at University of Michigan-Flint.
Through hard work and grit, the McDonald family was able to achieve what Kristen calls the Michigan Dream: to own a home, pay the bills, put a little away for retirement, and, every once in a while, have the chance to drive to Disney World. As an adult, Kristen has fought tirelessly to help families willing to work hard, like hers growing up, achieve that dream.
So after school, Kristen got to work helping families and children have more opportunities to thrive, with particular focus on making childcare more affordable. As the Executive Director of Michigan Head Start, Chief of Staff for Michigan’s Department of Education and Vice President of the Skillman Foundation, Kristen worked to make big changes in Michigan to improve child care and education outcomes for children, revitalize communities, increase youth development programs, and create public policy that helped level the playing field.
In 2022, Kristen was elected to the Michigan State Senate, where she is the first Democrat in over a decade and the first woman ever to represent the Great Lakes Bay Region in the Michigan Senate.
In the State Senate, Kristen has made great progress for Michigan families, workers and children. She successfully led the charge to pass the largest tax cut for working families in Michigan’s history, and has introduced a plan to address the growing childcare crisis in our state. Kristen has fought to protect abortion rights for women, and, in one of her first acts in the State Senate, passed a commonsense gun violence prevention bill that requires safe storage of firearms around children.
Kristen currently lives in Bay City with her husband Joseph, youngest son Elijah and their cat Tuck. They have five other adult children – Courtney, Grant, Laken, Madison, and Ella.
Web Links
Politics
Career
Source: Wikipedia
Prior to entering politics, McDonald Rivet served as chief of staff for State Superintendent Michael P. Flanagan and was vice president of the Skillman Foundation. Her first political position was in the Charter Commission for Bay City, MI. McDonald Rivet followed that up by serving as a member of the Bay City Commission, representing the city’s 2nd ward.
She was elected to the Michigan Senate in November 2022, defeating Republican state Representative Annette Glenn. She has declared her candidacy to run for the United States House of Representatives Michigan 8th District to replace the retiring Dan Kildee in the 2024 Democratic primary.
Issues
Priorities
Source: Campaign site
Michigan needs more high-wage jobs. Kristen will make sure we invest in our workforce to prepare Michiganders for the jobs of tomorrow because while college isn’t for everyone, good-paying jobs should be. She will also be steadfast in protecting our hard-earned freedoms and security, including defending the right to abortion, and keeping guns out of dangerous hands.
Now, as inflation and corporate greed have made the Michigan Dream increasingly out of reach for too many Michiganders, Kristen is running for Congress in Michigan’s 8th District to help level the playing field. Known for her pragmatic approach, Kristen has a record of moving policies to lower the cost of groceries, housing and prescription drugs, and to invest in childcare.
More Information
Wikipedia
Kristen McDonald Rivet (born July 11, 1970) is an American politician who is a member of the Michigan Senate for the 35th district. She was elected in November 2022 and took office on January 1, 2023.
Early life and education
McDonald Rivet was born on July 11, 1970, in Portland, Michigan,[2] where she was raised with her fraternal twin sister Karen McDonald. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in education and public administration from the University of Michigan–Flint.[3]
Career
Prior to entering politics, McDonald Rivet served as chief of staff for State Superintendent Michael P. Flanagan and was vice president of the Skillman Foundation.[4] Her first political position was in the Charter Commission for Bay City, MI.[5] McDonald Rivet followed that up by serving as a member of the Bay City Commission, representing the city’s 2nd ward.[6] She was elected to the Michigan Senate in November 2022, defeating Republican state Representative Annette Glenn.[7][8] She has declared her candidacy to run for the United States House of Representatives Michigan 8th District to replace the retiring Dan Kildee in the 2024 Democratic primary.[9]
Personal life
McDonald Rivet and her husband, Joseph Rivet, have six children.[2]
References
- ^ https://kristenmcdonaldrivet.com/
- ^ a b “Michigan Legislative Biography – Kristen McDonald Rivet”. Library of Michigan. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ Chalk, Dan (2022-09-30). “McDonald Rivet, Glenn share views in 35th State Senate District race”. Midland Daily News. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ “Kristen McDonald”. Detroit Regional Chamber. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ Dodson, Andrew (2017-11-13). “Here are the elected members of the Bay City Charter Commission”. mlive. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ “Michigan Legislature is up for grabs: These are races to watch on Election Day | Bridge Michigan”. www.bridgemi.com. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ Chalk, Dan (2022-11-09). “McDonald Rivet defeats Glenn for 35th District state senate seat”. Midland Daily News. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ “Kristen McDonald Rivet”. Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ Pasciolla, Isabelle (2024-01-04). “Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet celebrates Congressional run announcement; receives union endorsement”. Midland Daily News. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
