Democrat Jeremy Moss has secured a victory in Michigan's 11th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ, setting him up to replace outgoing Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) in the House. With a commanding lead in early returns—73 percent of the vote with about 19 percent of ballots counted by 8:15 p.m. EST—Moss easily outpaced Republican Ethan Baker, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary.
Moss's win was widely anticipated; Decision Desk HQ had rated him as the likely winner since August, and the Cook Political Report had also projected the district to remain safely Democratic. The seat has been a Democratic stronghold, with Stevens—who chose to run for Senate rather than seek reelection—carrying the district by roughly 20 points in the last two election cycles.
Moss brings a lengthy political resume to Washington. He has served in the Michigan State Legislature since 2015, becoming the state's first openly gay state senator, and has held the role of president pro tempore of the Michigan Senate since 2023. His victory also makes him Michigan's first openly LGBTQ member of Congress.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) had endorsed Moss as her preferred successor to Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to progressive Abdul El-Sayed. In a twist that has drawn national attention, Stevens has since endorsed Republican nominee and former Rep. Mike Rogers over El-Sayed, a move that has stirred controversy within the party.
Moss ran on a platform centered on tackling the cost of living, advocating for a “robust public option” to achieve universal healthcare coverage. He has been vocal about the need for the Democratic Party to adopt a more assertive approach. “We need a stronger, bolder, tougher Democratic Party, one that does not show up to the knife fight carrying a pie chart,” he told the Advocate during the campaign.
He also took a pragmatic stance on cultural issues, urging focus on economic and healthcare concerns rather than divisive debates. “There is no trans athlete in Michigan that is causing gas prices to spike,” Moss said, referencing rising energy costs tied to the Iran war. “There is no trans athlete in Michigan that is putting up barriers to affordable healthcare.”
Moss's victory adds to the Democrats' successes in holding key House seats, similar to Shaheen holding New Hampshire's 1st District and Wasserman Schultz's win in Florida's 20th District. His entry into Congress is expected to bolster the party's LGBTQ representation and reinforce its presence in the Midwest.
