Mai Hlee Xiong (born December 19, 1984) is a Hmong American businesswoman and politician currently serving as a Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives. She previously served on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners.[1] In April 2024, Xiong won a special election to fill the vacant District 13 in the Michigan House of Representatives.[2]
Mai Xiong | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 13th district | |
| Assumed office April 30, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Lori Stone |
| Macomb County Commissioner | |
| In office January 1, 2021 – April 30, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Marvin Sauger |
| Succeeded by | Gus Ghanam |
| Constituency | 2nd district (2021–2022) 11th district (2023–2024) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 19, 1984 Loei, Thailand |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Adam Kue (m. 2011) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | |
Early life
editXiong was born in the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp in the Loei province of Thailand to a Hmong family. At the age of 3, Xiong's family moved to Ohio after being accepted into the United States as refugees. Due to having extended family in Metro Detroit, Xiong and her siblings spent a lot of time in the area while growing up.[3][4]
Education
editIn 2003, Xiong was accepted into the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. During her studies, she moved to Warren, Michigan and interned at Campbell Ewald. Xiong graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.[4]
Xiong later graduated from the Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) at Michigan State University.[5] She is also a graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard Kennedy School.[1]
Career
editIn 2017, Xiong founded the brand Mai&Co, an apparel company inspired by traditional Hmong clothing. She is fluent in the Hmong language and helps as a language interpreter for a translation and interpretation organization.[1][3]
Xiong serves as a volunteer Board Member of the Macomb Food Program, a nonprofit working to raise funds and feed the hungry in Macomb County, Michigan.[6] She is also a coordinator for Adopt-A-County Road, a program where participants help maintain roads by cleaning up trash and litter.[7]
In August 2020, Xiong challenged incumbent Macomb County Commissioner Marvin Sauger in the Democratic primary where she finished in first place with 37.3% of the vote. Xiong later won the general election in November with 54.5% of the vote.[8][9]
During her first term, Xiong led the commission in appropriating $300,000 for the 2023 budget to go towards the county's food pantry distribution program. Xiong also worked to increase funding for Turning Point, a nonprofit intended to support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition, she also worked to secure funding for Martha T. Berry, a county health facility that works with the elderly.[1]
In 2022, Xiong was re-elected to a second term with 56.7% of the vote.[10]
In 2023, Xiong challenged Warren City Clerk Sonja Buffa. Despite making it through the primary, Xiong lost the general election with 46.2% of the vote.[11][12]
In 2023, Lori Stone, a Michigan State Representative, resigned after being elected mayor of Warren. Xiong announced her candidacy for the special election and won the Democratic primary in January 2024. She later won the general election with 65% of the vote.[13][2]
In November 2024, following court-mandated redistricting, Xiong sought re-election in the new 13th district and won the general election for a full term with 50.6% of the vote.[14][15]
Personal life
editXiong and her husband, Adam, met in 2008 before getting married in 2011. Both are Hmong American and they have four children together.[4]
Xiong was a victim of a cyber stalker and her story was featured in ID Discovery Stalked Someone Watching[16]
Xiong is a member of the Sierra Club and a Green Michigan.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Mai Xiong". Macomb County Board of Commissioners. 2021-12-23. Archived from the original on 2024-04-11. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ a b "Democrats retake majority in state House after Herzberg, Xiong outpace opponents". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ a b Nichols, Anna Liz (2023-11-28). "Here's your look at the candidates for Michigan's two empty state House seats ⋆ Michigan Advance". Michigan Advance. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ a b c "About Mai – Vote Mai Xiong for State Representative". Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "MPLP Leaders & Alumni | IPPSR". www.ippsr.msu.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "About & Contact – Macomb Food Program". 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Adopt-A-County Road sponsors". www.macombgov.org. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Two Macomb County commissioners from Warren ousted; Mary Chrzanowski leads Jodi Switalski for prosecutor". Macomb Daily. 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Macomb Co. – Election Results – County Commissioner – 2nd District". electionresults.macombgov.org. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Macomb Co. – Election Results – County Commissioner – 11th District". electionresults.macombgov.org. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Buffa, Xiong advance in Warren clerk race". www.candgnews.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Macomb Co. – Election Results – Warren Clerk". electionresults.macombgov.org. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Herzberg, Xiong win Metro Detroit primaries for Democratic-leaning Michigan House seats". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
- ^ Ramseth, Luke. "Michigan House: Xiong and Singer face off again for Macomb County's new 13th District". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ Web of Destruction, Stalked: Someone's Watching, Gloria Chung, Bruce Colbert, Liz Thomas Corona, 2012-02-16, retrieved 2024-09-04
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