Kristen McDonald Rivet

Kristen McDonald Rivet is a Democratic U.S. Representative for Michigan's 8th Congressional District, which includes Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, and Midland. First elected in November 2024 to succeed retiring Representative Dan Kildee, she assumed office on January 3, 2025. Born in 1970 and raised in Portland, Michigan, she was among the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a Bachelor of Arts in history from Michigan State University in 1992 and a Master of Public Administration and Education from the University of Michigan–Flint in 2010. Before her election to Congress, McDonald Rivet served in the Michigan State Senate for the 35th District from 2023 to 2025, where she held the role of assistant majority floor leader. In the state legislature, she was a primary sponsor of the Working Families Tax Credit expansion and played a key role in passing the state's 100% clean energy legislation and safe firearm storage measures. Her professional career prior to public office includes serving as the executive director of the Michigan Head Start Association, chief of staff for the Michigan Department of Education, and president and CEO of Greater Midland, Inc. In the U.S. House of Representatives, McDonald Rivet serves on the Armed Services and Education and Workforce committees and was elected by her peers as the Freshman Leadership Representative for the New Democrat Coalition. Her legislative priorities focus on economic affordability, middle-class tax relief, and manufacturing jobs. She advocates for lowering the costs of childcare, housing, and healthcare while working to protect Social Security and Medicare benefits for seniors.

Kristen McDonald Rivet advocates for economic policies aimed at reducing the cost of living for working families, specifically targeting expenses for childcare, housing, and prescription drugs. She supports middle-class tax cuts, having previously sponsored the expansion of the Michigan Working Families Tax Credit. On healthcare, she emphasizes the protection of Social Security and Medicare and is a vocal supporter of reproductive freedom, having worked to repeal Michigan's 1931 abortion ban. Her environmental platform focuses on transitioning to 100% clean energy and promoting renewable energy projects to address climate change. In foreign policy, she has expressed support for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict that includes the release of hostages and favors continued assistance to Ukraine against Russian aggression. Regarding public safety and immigration, she has supported measures for safe firearm storage and joined bipartisan efforts on legislation such as the Laken Riley Act. She also champions ethics reform, including a ban on stock trading for federal officials.