Kristen McDonald-Rivet was born July 11, 1970, in Portland, Michigan, and grew up in a working-class family. Her father worked construction while her mother stayed home to raise her and her sisters. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a B.A. in history from Michigan State University in 1992. Later, she earned a master’s degree in Public Administration and Education from University of Michigan–Flint.
Before entering public office, McDonald-Rivet built a career focused on community and public-service work — including leadership roles in nonprofits and local government, and serving as chief strategy officer for a health-improvement alliance. In 2022, she was elected to the Michigan Senate (District 35), where she served as assistant majority floor leader.
In 2024, with the long-time incumbent retiring, McDonald-Rivet ran for the U.S. House to represent Michigan’s 8th congressional district (MI-08), a district that includes Genesee, Saginaw, Bay, and Midland counties, and was selected by voters to carry forward the seat. She assumed office on January 3, 2025. Today, she serves on the House Committees for Agriculture and Transportation & Infrastructure, and has been selected as the Freshman Leadership Representative for the New Democrat Coalition in Congress.
McDonald-Rivet is a longtime Michigander, a mother, and someone rooted in the life and struggles of working families. Her background — from small-town Michigan roots, to nonprofit and policy work, to state and now national office — shapes her commitment to delivering real economic opportunity for everyday people.
Key Issue Stances & Priorities
Kristen McDonald-Rivet emphasizes a policy agenda centered around economic fairness, affordability, and opportunity for working families in Mid-Michigan.
- Lowering Costs & Supporting Working & Middle-Class Families — She advocates cutting taxes for working and middle-class households, reducing the cost of everyday essentials (groceries, housing, child care), and lowering prescription-drug prices.
- Good Jobs & Economic Opportunity in Mid-Michigan — McDonald Rivet aims to bring good-paying jobs to the region, support economic development, and level the playing field for working families and small businesses.
- Protecting Social Safety Net & Retiree Benefits — She supports strong protections for programs like Social Security and Medicare, which many families rely on.
- Infrastructure, Agriculture, and Rural Communities — Through her committee assignments (Agriculture; Transportation & Infrastructure), she is positioned to advocate for rural and small-town needs, infrastructure investments, and sustainable agricultural policy — important for many communities in MI-08.
- Public Safety & Common-Sense Governance — She frames her approach as pragmatic and community-focused, working to keep neighborhoods safe while ensuring policies reflect the needs of families.
Accomplishments & Distinctive Strengths
- Proven Record of Public Service & Policy Experience — McDonald-Rivet has served at multiple levels: building from nonprofit and community work to state government (Michigan Senate), and now to Congress, giving her a broad perspective on policy and governance.
- Delivering for Mid-Michigan in 2024 — By winning MI-08 with a clear margin, she kept a crucial district in Democratic hands despite a challenging political environment — a win rooted in her connection to working families and her grassroots coalition.
- Leadership Role as Freshman Member of Congress — Her selection as the Freshman Leadership Representative for the New Democrat Coalition signals trust from colleagues and an opportunity to push pragmatic, results-oriented policies for Michigan.
- Focus on Affordability, Jobs, and Real Needs — From her campaign pledges to her committee work, she is clearly aligning her representation with the economic and day-to-day concerns of working families and small communities, focusing on affordability, opportunity, and fairness.
Everyone, regardless of their zip code, should be able to access quality, affordable health care. I am fighting to bring more federal resources home to mid-Michigan so we can improve the quality of care for veterans and fight the opioid crisis head-on. These projects break down barriers many rural communities face in getting the care they need and deserve.
- Kristen McDonald-Rivet