U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence of Southfield wins third term

Democratic U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence was re-elected on Tuesday to a third term representing Michigan's 14th District, according to a projection by the Associated Press.

Lawrence was leading Republican Marc Herschfus of Southfield 81.3  percent to 16.9 percent with 99 percent of precincts reporting unofficial results.

Working Class Party candidate Philip Kolody of Detroit was trailing with 1.8  percent.

During a victory party Tuesday at the MotorCity Casino, Lawrence gave shout-outs to teachers and women.

“On a national platform, Democrats, we have watched these elections all over the country, and we have seen what we have to do," she said. "Representing is something we have to continue to do. Thank you, God bless you.”

Lawrence, the former mayor of Southfield, serves on the House Oversight and Government Reform, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.18

She serves as secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus and plans to run to chair the Democratic Women’s Working Group caucus, of which she is currently vice chair.  

She was one of 25 members of Congress who in June toured a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility in the U.S.-Mexico border city of McAllen, Texas.

They described seeing children sleeping behind bars, on concrete floors and under emergency “mylar” heat-resistant blankets.

Democratic lawmakers, including Lawrence, said they weren’t convinced the Trump administration had a real plan to reunite immigrant children separated from their parents by U.S. border authorities.

President Donald Trump later ended the child separation policy.