Sen. McDonald Rivet selected as one of America's exceptional leaders

Senator Kristen McDonald-Rivet gives the keynote address at the Great Lakes Bay Pride event, Together in Pride annual fundraiser hosted by Midland Country Club on March 9, 2023.

Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet was selected last week as one of 22 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders).

NewDEAL is a selective national network of state and local elected officials, with honorary co-chairs U.S. Senator Chris Coons and Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland.

Members of the network have been chosen from more than 1,900 nominations over NewDEAL's 12 years, and are united by their work to enact pro-growth, progressive solutions across their diverse array of communities.

Serving in her first term, McDonald Rivet was selected to join NewDEAL because of her commitment to improving job and educational opportunities, revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding youth development programs and tackling institutional inequity issues. McDonald Rivet's early legislative accomplishments include tax relief for working families, labor rights and gun safety.

"In this crucial moment, state and local leaders have transformational levels of federal aid to impact the economic security of so many Michiganders, potentially for decades to come," McDonald Rivet said. "I’m excited to share and hear lessons learned from other leaders who excel in effective governance, and I am thrilled to be part of NewDEAL's efforts expanding opportunities for Americans in every corner of our country."

McDonald Rivet joins the group at a time when state and local leaders are focusing on economic issues around the cost of living and the changing nature of work, as well as challenges caused by climate change, racial inequities and threats to democracy.

NewDEALers’ next major gathering will take place at the Spring Ideas Summit on May 15-16 in Detroit, where about 50 members will join other innovators from the public and private sectors to discuss a forward-looking agenda for state and local Democrats to address the biggest challenges facing the country, including housing, education, climate change and threats to democracy.

Wednesday's announcement brings the total number of NewDEAL members to 191 leaders from 49 states.

Learn more about McDonald Rivet and the NewDEAL on its website.

The new class of NewDEAL Leaders includes:• Alaska: Rep. Maxine Dibert• Arkansas: Rep. Nicole Clowney• Connecticut: Sen. Christine Cohen• Georgia: Rep.Phil Olaleye and Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett• Louisiana: Sen. Royce Duplessis• Maryland: Delegate Adrian Boafo• Michigan: Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet• Minnesota: Rochester Mayor Kim Norton• New Mexico: Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver• Nevada: Las Vegas Councilmember Brian Knudsen• New York: Assemblymember Alex Bores• Ohio: Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb• Oregon: Rep. Daniel Nguyen• Rhode Island: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley• South Carolina: Rep. Marvin Pendarvis• Tennessee: Rep. Caleb Hemmer• Utah: Sen. Stephanie Pitcher• Virginia: Newport News Mayor Phil Jones, Delegate Irene Shin, Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw