Duggan's endorsement of council's Waters reveals local alliances

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan endorsed at-large City Council member Mary Waters in her bid for Congress last week.

• It's the latest sign that U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar's local allies are dwindling.

The big picture: Thanedar has won the vote in Detroit in every one of his elections since running for governor in 2018, but has failed to win over the Black political establishment.

• The district's Black political leaders want to see their own candidate replace the Indian American immigrant who snapped Detroit's 70-year streak of Black representation in Congress.

What they're saying: "Our future is in Washington and we need somebody in Congress who fights for us. And right now, I don't feel like we got any help from our congressman," Duggan said during a press briefing on Mackinac Island, the Free Press reports.

The other side: "Detroit has always stood with me and I remember that everyday in Congress. I'm confident that the people will choose me again," Thanedar wrote in a text message to Axios on Friday.

Between the lines: The mayor's endorsement is being seen by insiders as an investment into future relationships with the councilmember as well as retribution for opposing a major project he supported.

• Thanedar followed his House colleague Rep. Rashida Tlaib's lead in opposing tax breaks for the Ilitch family organization and Stephen Ross' Related Cos. last year.
• He met with the mayor about the project but still demanded City Council reject the tax incentives , Jonathan Kinloch, a county commissioner and chair of the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party, tells Axios.

The bottom line: "It's a win-win situation — Mary Waters is a member of Detroit City Council," Kinloch says. "It only builds goodwill from the mayor for future projects and other initiatives the administration may bring before City Council."