Like so many of our friends and neighbors, I’m proud to call Oakland County home. Since I announced my campaign for Michigan’s 40th State House District back in August 2017, our community has seen unprecedented growth. Democratic support across Southeastern Michigan has only increased, and together we flipped this district from Republican to Democratic for the first time in a generation in 2018. I ran for office calling for a new generation of strong, bold leadership and together, we’ve delivered on that promise.
Since assuming this office, we’ve delivered bipartisan criminal justice reform, helped jumpstart pedestrian safety projects that were long overdue for our community, and secured funding for much-needed new equipment for our firefighters. We passed my legislation to end distracted driving, which I’ll continue to work on this year, and Governor Whitmer signed my bill into law that established the First Time Homebuyer Savings Account program in Michigan, allowing more Michiganders to stay here and achieve home ownership.
We’ve honored dozens of small businesses, teachers and first responders throughout the district, recognizing that it is all of you–the residents of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, and West Bloomfield–who make this community a great place to call home.
With that historic progress in mind and strong certainty in the future of our communities, I wanted to share with you that I will not be seeking re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives this fall.
While I’m confident that the people of this district would have continued to provide me with their overwhelming support in November, just as they did in 2018 and 2020, I recognize that it is a rare privilege to walk away from public office on one’s own terms before a vote is cast, or before term limits would prevent me from seeking re-election.
During the past four years, we’ve seen more folks engaged in elections than ever before, and although the 40th District won’t continue to resemble its current form, I’m sure that our communities, no matter which district they belong to, will have strong representation that fights for the people above all else.
To the Armenian-American community – my community – I cannot thank you enough for your support over the years and I look forward to continuing to fight this righteous fight with you. The significance of being the only Armenian-American currently serving at the state level in Michigan has never been lost on me. One of my proudest moments of my life came at 3 a.m. during a House session in Lansing, when we passed a resolution calling out the war crimes being committed against Armenians in Artsakh by Azerbaijan and Turkey, becoming the first state in the nation to do so. The importance of representation, for ours and all communities that have been marginalized across history, will never be lost on me.
To Team Mari, whether you were out knocking on doors with me in the heat and rain in 2018 and 2020, or simply chipped in a few bucks online, and everyone in between: thank you for always believing. To my union brothers and sisters, especially the Utility Workers Union of America which was the first union to support and endorse my campaign: from the bottom of my heart, thank you. To Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden: folks often say that there is no such thing as true friendship in politics, but that just means they have never met us. Thank you for having my back through the tough times and encouraging us to celebrate during the great ones.
Finally, I’d like to thank my family: my dad, George, my mom, Sandy, and my sister, Alis–for their never-ending love and support, encouragement and reassurance. I love you guys very much. And to Blake Goodman, my dearest friend, thank you.
With all that being said, I’m not going anywhere just yet. I’m still working on bills to improve the lives of folks living in our district and across the state. I’m forever grateful to you for placing trust in me to serve as your voice in the Michigan House.
You took a chance on me, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, serving you has been the honor and privilege of my life.
Yours in service, always,
