Vulnerable Michigan Republican continues extreme record by saying Harris is not ‘authentically Black’

An article published by Detroit News last Wednesday shed light on offensive racial comments made by Michigan state Rep. Jim DeSana (R-Carleton), risking his chances in keeping his vulnerable seat.

DeSana drew headlines this week after Detroit News published audio of the representative at a rally on July 24. At the rally, DeSana said that some people don’t see Vice President Kamala Harris as “authentically Black.”

“Well and I’m not sure that everybody perceives Kamala [Harris] as authentically Black, because doesn’t she have a Jamaican father?” DeSana asked. “There’s some Jamaican and Indian in there. Some Asian blood, too. Like Samoan? I don’t know.”

When pressed by Detroit News’ Craig Mauger, DeSana refused to back down from his remarks, saying that he accepts Harris’ “desire to identify as Black” but that “people understand that she is multi-racial.”

The comment is the latest in a series of extreme stances the freshman lawmaker has taken as he seeks reelection in a tossup district. DeSana was sworn into the Michigan House of Representatives in January 2023, where he has made a habit of perpetuating former President Donald Trump’s false election claims, espousing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and opposing reproductive rights.

In August 2023, DeSana made a Facebook post defending the alternate slate of electors in Michigan, claiming that the media referring to them as “fake electors” is “harmful to our Republic.”

These fake electors attempted to overturn the legitimate election results in Michigan, Wisconsin and several other swing states to prevent Joe Biden from taking office in January 2021. Sixteen of these fake electors were criminally charged by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in May.

In April, Nessel declined a request from DeSana and fellow GOP Reps. Neil Friske and Steve Carra to criminally investigate Dominion Voting System’s CEO John Poulos. The representatives claimed that Poulos may have lied under oath before the state Senate Oversight Committee. In June 2021, Michigan Republicans concluded an extensive investigation into voter fraud, in which they found no substantial evidence.

Despite his concerns, DeSana has voted against bills to stop poll worker intimidation, early voting and the creation of a ballot tracking system.

In 2022, DeSana reposted a claim on Twitter that “sexual identity is straight out of the Communist Manifesto.”

In 2023, DeSana also voted against a bill to ban youth conversion therapy.

And in August, DeSana and Friske introduced a resolution to repeal the right to reproductive freedom in Michigan.

DeSana was narrowly elected to Michigan’s lower chamber in 2022, when he narrowly defeated his opponent Alex Garza by just 1,040 votes. Next month, he will face 25-year-old Democratic challenger Kyle Wright. During their respective primary elections, Wright collected 5,327 votes, while DeSana garnered 5,296.