Who is Shri Thanedar, Democrat who filed articles of impeachment against Trump

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) announced Monday he filed seven articles of impeachment against President Trump, after serving just one complete term in office.

The alleged impeachable actions include the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man mistakenly sent to El Salvador, and funding cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) without congressional approval.

Thanedar also cites Trump’s steep tariff agenda that has roiled global markets, his treatment of reporters and the First Amendment, his alleged bribery and corruption in the justice system, his efforts to obtain Americans’ personal data, and his “tyrannical overreach.”

The impeachment articles are all but certain to die in Congress — since Republicans control both the House and the Senate — but Thanedar’s announcement Monday signals an effort to boost his own national profile and to position himself as a clear opponent of the president and his agenda.

Born in India, Thanedar has described lifting himself and his family out of “abject poverty” through hard work, some luck and a good education — both in his native country and when he arrived in Michigan.

He is a chemist, business owner and served in the Michigan state house before he was elected to Congress in 2022 and reelected last fall. He also mounted an unsuccessful campaign for governor in Michigan in 2018.

Thanedar has been a target for progressives since he distanced himself from the wing of the party after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. A former member of Democratic Socialists of America, Thanedar renounced his membership after the group issued a statement expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people but failed to condemn Hamas or the attack itself.

Thanedar already faces two primary challenges in the 2026 election cycle.

On Monday morning, state Rep. Donavan McKinney (D) announced he was launching a left-wing primary challenge to Thanedar, blasting him as an out-of-touch multimillionaire who represents one of the poorest districts in the country.

“People like our congressman, Shri Thanedar, are the problem,” McKinney said. “A multimillionaire who spent millions to buy a seat in Congress, who has more in common with Donald Trump and Elon Musk than people like us.” 

Thanedar told The Hill in a statement Monday that he’s “proud” voters in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District voted for him in 2022 and 2024.

“I know firsthand what it’s like to struggle and make ends meet. That’s why I’m passionate about ensuring everyone gets a free education, universal healthcare, and access to skills training to get good-paying jobs,” Thanedar said.

“Voters have a choice between my bold, strong and proven leadership, or Hollier’s incompetence, or McKinney’s inexperience,” he said. “I’m confident that my constituents in Michigan 13 will send me back to Congress again.”

Former state Sen. Adam Hollier (D) — who launched a primary challenge against Thanedar in 2024 but did not qualify to appear on the ballot — announced earlier this month he would also challenge the incumbent.