WASHINGTON — Democrat Christina Hines, a former special victims prosecutor in Wayne County, will launch her congressional campaign Monday for a suburban Detroit U.S. House seat held by two-term Republican U.S. Rep. John James.

Hines, 35, of Warren, is the second Democrat to join the race for Michigan's 10th Congressional District, which covers southern Macomb County and Rochester and Rochester Hills in Oakland County.

Democrats saw the district as a key pickup opportunity last year after nearly winning it in 2022, when Carl Marlinga narrowly lost to James, of Shelby Township, in the country's third-closest race. James beat Marlinga for a second time in November by a more comfortable margin of 6 percentage points, or about 26,000 votes. But the race could be competitive once again in 2026 if voters rebuke sweeping Republican-led changes in Washington or James seeks a statewide office, like Michigan's open race for governor.

Hines, in an interview with The Detroit News, said she decided to run after President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the U.S. Department of Education.

"As somebody that lives in Warren, Michigan, I know how important it is that we have a Department of Education that helps fund special education. I know how important Medicaid is to folks with disabilities in my community and to children in my community," she said, referring also to speculation that Republicans on Capitol Hill will gut the low-income health insurance program.

About 21% of people under the age of 65 in the 10th District relied on Medicaid or the federal Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), according to a 2023 Georgetown University analysis.

"I'm running against the corruption in Washington and the people that are causing this chaos and who are, honestly, hurting everyday Americans," Hines said. "When we talk about cutting these important programs, when we talk about cutting federal grants to, for example, the Macomb County Foster Closet, these are services that are in our community and helping people that need help. And I can't just stand by and let this happen."

Hines describes herself as a working mother of three children, a Warren native and a Christian who attends church in the community. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in political science and from Wayne State University Law School.

Her husband, she said, is an engineer who works as a project manager for General Motors Co. at the automaker's Warren Technical Center.

Hines worked for about six years as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Wayne County, specializing in prosecuting sexual assault cases of children and adults. Hines then worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Washtenaw County, also working on sexual assault.

She last ran for public office in November, when she lost the Macomb County prosecutor's race to incumbent Republican Peter Lucido.

Marlinga, of Sterling Heights, has endorsed Hines in the Democratic primary.

“Christina is the new generational leader we need in Washington to give our country a fresh start. She is a fighter who knows every corner of Macomb and the people who live here," Marlinga said in a statement. "She has prosecuted child predators and won — combining a great intellect with a caring heart. In a time of chaos and bickering, Christina is a leader who will do that which is best for the people.”

Hines is expected to formally kick off her campaign with a Monday morning event in Center Line. Her only opponent in the 2026 Democratic primary — so far — is Army veteran Alex Hawkins, of Rochester.

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