Justin Onwenu graduated from Rice University with a degree in international health and policy. He also attended Columbia Law School, where he focused on labor and constitutional law. He is currently an adjunct law professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Abraham Aiyash Seeks Michigan Senate Seat in Historic District 1 ...

Justin Onwenu graduated from Rice University with a degree in international health and policy. He also attended Columbia Law School, where he focused on labor and constitutional law. 

Justin is the director of entrepreneurship and economic opportunity for the City of Detroit. He also teaches workers' rights law as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He previously worked as a law clerk for the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Before law school, he was a community organizer in Detroit's 48217 zip code. 

Justin is the director of entrepreneurship and economic opportunity for the City of Detroit. He also teaches workers' rights law as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He previously worked as a law clerk for the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). He was also a community organizer.

Justin previously served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives.

Justin Onwenu - Ballotpedia

Justin's campaign for Michigan House of Representatives is his first run for public office. 

2026 Michigan General Election

2026 Michigan Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

Plans on lowering housing, utility, and medical costs to make Michigan more affordable.

Seeks to protect collective-bargaining rights, repeal the ban on project labor agreements, and "crack down on wage theft."

Seeks to provide targeted support for small businesses.

Supports investing in Michigan's startup ecosystem by backing emerging technologies, supporting workforce development and talent retention efforts, and strengthening partnerships with Michigan's universities.

Wants to lower property taxes and rent through structural property tax reform and aims to ensure that economic development, relief, and beautification efforts reach all communities.

- Plans on lowering housing, utility, and medical costs to make Michigan more affordable.
- Seeks to protect collective-bargaining rights, repeal the ban on project labor agreements, and "crack down on wage theft."
- Supports raising the minimum wage.
- Seeks to provide targeted support for small businesses.
- Supports investing in Michigan's startup ecosystem by backing emerging technologies, supporting workforce development and talent retention efforts, and strengthening partnerships with Michigan's universities.
- Wants to lower property taxes and rent through structural property tax reform and aims to ensure that economic development, relief, and beautification efforts reach all communities.

Economy

Supports public safety funding for police and fire departments.

Supports community violence intervention organizations, criminal justice reform, and robust youth and after-school programs.

Cares about reproductive freedom, marriage equality, free speech, and immigrant communities.

- Supports gun safety laws.
- Supports public safety funding for police and fire departments.
- Supports community violence intervention organizations, criminal justice reform, and robust youth and after-school programs.
- Cares about reproductive freedom, marriage equality, free speech, and immigrant communities.

Public Safety

Supports lowering drug prices, boosting senior in-home care, and directing funding to local senior centers and support services.

- Supports lowering drug prices, boosting senior in-home care, and directing funding to local senior centers and support services.

Healthcare

Seeks to strengthen public schools by rebuilding school infrastructure and ensuring equitable funding.

Supports expanding skilled trades programs.

- Seeks to strengthen public schools by rebuilding school infrastructure and ensuring equitable funding.
- Supports raising teacher and staff pay.
- Supports expanding skilled trades programs.

Education

Supports investing in public transit, modern infrastructure, increased housing supply, and walkable neighborhoods.

- Supports investing in public transit, modern infrastructure, increased housing supply, and walkable neighborhoods.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Wants to ensure every resident has clean air to breathe, clean, affordable water to drink, and "real environmental justice."

- Wants to ensure every resident has clean air to breathe, clean, affordable water to drink, and "real environmental justice."

Energy & the Environment

Supports a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reform.

Supports a strengthened State Board of Ethics and full financial disclosure from lawmakers.

Seeks to protect  communities from redlining and discrimination.

Seeks to "[stop] Lansing lawmakers from cashing in as lobbyists or legislative consultants with a required cooling-off period."

Wants a "fair government with a Michigan Voting Rights Act to guarantee equal access to the ballot, prevent voter suppression, and strengthen democracy."

- Supports a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reform.
- Supports a strengthened State Board of Ethics and full financial disclosure from lawmakers.
- Seeks to protect  communities from redlining and discrimination.
- Seeks to "[stop] Lansing lawmakers from cashing in as lobbyists or legislative consultants with a required cooling-off period."
- Wants a "fair government with a Michigan Voting Rights Act to guarantee equal access to the ballot, prevent voter suppression, and strengthen democracy."

Voting & Elections

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Justin Onwenu

As of May 7, 2026, Justin Onwenu’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Justin is the Director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity. He works at the City of Detroit, where he drives investment in Detroit small businesses and startups. He previously worked as a law clerk for the United Auto Workers and the Service Employees International Union, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Justin Onwenu's campaign for Michigan State Senator, District 1, is his first run for public office.

Justin is Detroit’s first Director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity. He works at the City of Detroit, where he drives investment in Detroit small businesses and startups. He previously worked as a community organizer in Detroit’s 48217 zip code, as a law clerk for the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and as an adjunct professor of workers’ rights law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Justin Onwenu's campaign for Michigan State Senate, District 1, is his first entry into politics.

Justin Onwenu graduated from Rice University with a degree in international health and policy. He earned his law degree from Columbia Law School. He is a member of several local organizations, including the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Justin is Detroit's first director of entrepreneurship and economic opportunity. He also teaches workers' rights law as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He previously worked as a law clerk for the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Justin previously served as a Michigan State Representative.

Plans to lower property taxes and rent through structural property tax reform and ensure that economic development, relief, and beautification efforts reach all communities.

Supports providing targeted assistance to small businesses in Detroit and Downriver.

Supports transparency in government, advocating for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reform, a more robust State Board of Ethics, and complete financial disclosure from lawmakers.

Supports closing the wealth gap and protecting communities from redlining and discrimination.

Supports creating safer communities through strong gun safety laws, public safety funding, criminal justice reform, and robust youth and after-school programs.

Supports strengthening public schools by improving infrastructure, ensuring equitable funding, raising teacher and staff pay, and expanding skilled trades programs.

Supports investing in public transit and modern infrastructure.

Supports the Michigan Voting Rights Act to ensure equal voting access, prevent voter suppression, and strengthen democracy.

Justin is the Director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity for the City of Detroit. He works there driving investment in Detroit small businesses and startups. He previously worked as a community organizer in Detroit’s 48217 neighborhood, as a law clerk for the United Auto Workers and the Service Employees International Union, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Plans to lower prescription drug prices, increase in-home care, and provide more funding for local senior centers and support services.

Supports a transparent government with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reform, a strengthened State Board of Ethics, and full financial disclosure from lawmakers.

Supports a required cooling-off period for Lansing lawmakers to prevent them from immediately becoming lobbyists or legislative consultants.

Supports gun control and served as an organizer for March for Our Lives.

Supports an "honorable government that defends our constitutional rights against extreme attacks on reproductive freedom, marriage equality, free speech, and immigrant communities."

As a state representative, worked to make Detroit a partner for economic growth by using innovative technology to strengthen water infrastructure.

Alejandra Gracias

Graham Shirley

Abraham Aiyash

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