EAST LANSING – The Michigan Education Association announced Friday the recommendations of Kristen McDonald Rivet for the 8^th Congressional District and Jessica Swartz for the 4^th Congressional District.

“At the local level, MEA members interviewed the candidates and have made careful decisions to recommend in these races because our students need members of Congress who’ll stand up for them,” said MEA President Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County. “Kristen and Jessica are true friends of public education who will make student success a priority in Washington, D.C.

“Throughout this critical election year, we look forward to working with them and other MEA recommended candidates to strengthen our schools, colleges and universities and bring respect back to the education profession.”

Both candidates were screened and recommended by committees comprised of MEA members from their respective districts. These federal recommendations were then concurred by the board of the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education at its recent meeting in Washington, D.C.

These recommendations come on the heels of prior announcements about MEA support for Elissa Slotkin for U.S. Senate; Justice Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Ann Thomas for Michigan Supreme Court; and the following local recommendations for Congressional candidates: Hillary Scholten (3^rd), Debbie Dingell (6^th), Curtis Hertel Jr. (7^th), Carl Marlinga (10^th), Haley Stevens (11^th), Rashida Tlaib (12^th) and Shri Thanedar (13^th).

Local committees are continuing to screen candidates in other congressional and state legislative districts, and further recommendations will be announced in the coming weeks and months for both local and statewide races.

As the state’s largest school employee union, MEA members — who live and work in every Michigan county — have a long history of political engagement and helping friends of public education win elections.

The NEA Fund for Children and Public Education provides direct financial support to candidates for president, the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate who will fight to support teachers, st