Rebekah Warren - Ann Arbor

Rebekah Warren.

Rebekah Warren, a Democrat from Ann Arbor, is the State Senator for Michigan's 18th Senate District. She was first elected to the state senate in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Her current four-year term runs through 2018. The 18th District covers the cities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline and Milan, the village of Barton Hills, and the townships of Ann Arbor, Augusta, Lodi, Pittsfield, Salem, Saline, Scio, Superior, York and Ypsilanti.

In early 2014 she formed an exploratory committee to consider a possible campaign for the Congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. John Dingell, but a week later announced her decision not to run. The race would have pitted her against Dingell's wife, Debbie Dingell, in the 2014 Democratic primary.

Prior to the state senate, Warren served two terms (four years) in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing District 53 (Ann Arbor). She won her first term in that seat in 2006, after defeating former Ann Arbor city councilmember Leigh Greden in a contentious Democratic primary, then beating Republican Erik P. Sheagren and Socialist Matt Erard in November. She was re-elected in 2008.

Warren has in the past chaired the city of Ann Arbor's Community Development Executive Committee and served on the boards of a variety of local organizations, including the Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan. Prior to her election to state office, Warren worked in Lansing from 1993-1999, serving as a legislative assistant to State Rep. Mary Schroer (D-Ann Arbor) and then Representative Hubert Price (D-Pontiac). From 1999-2006 she was executive director of MARAL Pro-Choice Michigan.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Warren is married to Conan Smith, a Democrat and Washtenaw County commissioner representing District 9. She lives on Ann Arbor's west side.

Timeline

Nov. 4, 2014: Is elected to her second four-year term as State Senator representing District 18. Defeats Republican Terry M. Linden with 61,421 votes (71.89%), compared to 23,745 votes (27.79%) for Linden. Warren had run unopposed in the August Democratic primary.

March 7, 2014: Announces that she has decided not to run for Congress. She makes the announcement on her Facebook page: "I have decided, however, not to do it and to run instead for my second term in the Michigan Senate, My heart is in Lansing right now, and I believe I can do the most good working for Michigan, in Michigan.”

Rebekah Warren in the 2014 Ann Arbor July 4th parade.

Feb. 28, 2014: Announces that she has formed a Congressional exploratory committee for the seat being vacated by Rep. John Dingell. Running for this office would pit Warren against Dingell's wife, Debbie Dingell, in the Democratic primary.

Nov. 2, 2010: Wins her first four-year term in the Michigan Senate seat for District 18, defeating Republican John Hochstetler. Gets 60,333 votes (65.18%) compared to 31,771 votes (34.32%) for Hochstetler.

Aug. 3, 2010: Wins Democratic primary for the 18th District Michigan Senate seat, held by term-limited Liz Brater. Gets 13,113 votes (55.58%) compared to 9,529 votes (40.43%) Pam Byrnes and 909 votes (3.85%) for Thomas Partridge.

2009: Receives the Michigan Nonprofit Association's Nonprofit Champion Award, the Michigan Soft Drink Association's Legislative Leadership Award, and the Clean Water Action's Lawmaker of the Year Award.

March 2009: Joins her mother-in-law Alma Wheeler Smith to introduce legislation that would provide free college tuition for Michigan residents by raising the state income tax.

Nov. 4, 2008: Wins re-election to her second two-year term in the 53rd District State House of Representatives seat, defeating Republican Christina N. Brewton and Socialist Matt Erard. Warren gets 37,845 votes (78.08%) compared to 8,282 votes (17.09%) for Brewton and 2,200 votes (4.54%) for Erard. She had run unopposed in the August 2008 Democratic primary.

2008: Receives MichBio's Legislator of the Year Award.

2007: Marries Conan Smith.

Nov. 7, 2006: Wins election to her first two-year term in the 53rd District State House of Representatives seat, replacing term-limited Chris Kolb. Warren gets 26,985 votes (80%) compared to 5,898 votes (17.49%) for Republican Erik P. Sheagren and 847 votes (2.51%) for Socialist Matt Erard.

August 2006: Defeats Ann Arbor city councilmember Leigh Greden in the Democratic primary for the 53rd State District House of Representatives seat. Gets 5,168 votes (60.94%) compared to 3,313 votes (29.06%) for Greden.

2005: Receives National Women's Political Caucus of Michigan's "Millie Award."

1999-2006: Serves as executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Michigan, the state affiliate of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Aug. 4, 1998: Loses a four-way Democratic primary for the Michigan State Representative seat in District 52, coming in third. The primary is won by John Hansen with 2,020 votes (31.54%) compared to 1,771 votes (27.65%) for Pam Byrnes, 1,677 votes (26.18%) for Warren, and 937 votes (14.63%) for Larry Kestenbaum.

1994: Graduates from the University of Michigan's Residential College, majoring in political science.

1993-1999: Works on the staff of State Rep. Mary Schroer of Ann Arbor and later on the staff of State Rep. Hubert Price of Pontiac, Michigan.

Nov. 25, 1971: Is born in Owosso, Michigan.