FLINT, Mich. — U.S. Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet was sworn in as Michigan’s 8th congressional district representative during a ceremony on Jan. 27, 2025.
She was sworn in by Judge Shalina D. Kumar at the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in downtown Flint.
After taking the oath, McDonald Rivet announced the opening of a new Flint District office at 601 Saginaw Street.
“We’ve already opened and have fully running an office here in Flint with the staff ready to serve you,”McDonald Rivet said. “If you need help, have a friend who needs help, if there’s an issue we can bring to light on an event we can uplift, please contact our office.”
McDonald Rivet serves on both the powerful House Committee on Agriculture and the influential House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure.
“I will be in a strong position to fight for farmers, roads, waterways and good paying jobs,” the congresswoman said in reference to her committee appointments.
She also highlighted her leadership position with the new Democratic Coalition, or “New Dems,” which is a group of more than 100 democrats in the 119th Congress.
“I have a leadership position with…the largest group of moderate problem solving lawmakers in the house, a post I can use to move our mission agenda forward,” the newly-elected congresswoman said.
Her agenda, according to her office, focuses on lowering costs, creating good-paying jobs and keeping mid-Michiganders safe.
“There is overwhelming negativity and division in our politics, in our culture, on our screens, and last week in particular was scary for a lot of people,” McDonald Rivet told attendees. “[But] when you spend time in our community and with our people, you quickly find there’s far more that unites us than divides us. We all want good schools where our kids can grow to their full potential, to have safe neighborhoods and clean water.”
McDonald Rivet defeated her Republican opponent Paul Junge in the Nov. 2024 election, replacing longtime incumbent Dan Kildee who did not seek re-election.
Prior to being elected to Congress, McDonald Rivet served in the state Senate. Now, she will represent Genesee, Saginaw, Bay and Midland counties in Washington’s 119th Congress alongside 434 other representatives. She is the first woman to serve mid-Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Community members can contact the Flint District Office at 810-238-8627.