Leslie N. Love[1] (born July 8, 1971)[2] is an American politician and government official. A member of the Democratic Party, Love served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2014 to 2020.[3] Love represented the 10th District, which encompasses parts of northwest Detroit and Redford Township.[4]

Leslie Love
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 10th district
In office
January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2020
Preceded byPhil Cavanagh
Succeeded byMary Cavanagh
Personal details
Born (1971-07-08) July 8, 1971 (age 53)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationSiena Heights University (BA)
Wayne State University (MFA)
Marygrove College (MA)
WebsiteOfficial website

After leaving the state legislature, Love was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, becoming the first African-American to serve on the commission.[5] She was a candidate to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate in the 2024 election.[6]

Education

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Love attended Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Thomas M. Cooley High School. She received a bachelor's degree from Siena Heights University and master's degrees from Marygrove College and Wayne State University.[7][8] She lives in Detroit.

Early career

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In 1998, she worked as the campaign assistant for California Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson and for California Governor Gray Davis as a field organizer.

Love previously worked as the director of theater operations at Marygrove College and served as an adjunct professor for Marygrove College and the Wayne County Community College District.[9]

Political career

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In 2014, Love ran for the Michigan House of Representatives and was elected.[9] She served in the body until she was term-limited in 2020.[10]

Love went on to be appointed to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.[11] Upon her appointment, she became the first African-American to serve on the board. Love additionally served assistant deputy director in the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) Metro-Region.[5]

In 2023, Love announced she would run in the 2024 election for U.S. Senate.[6] If elected, Love would be the first Black Senator from Michigan.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Michigan Committee Statement of Organization". Michigan Secretary of State. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  2. ^ "State Representative LESLIE LOVE" (PDF). Michigan Legislature.
  3. ^ "Leslie Love". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  4. ^ "2014 Live Michigan election results: State House Districts 1-110". MLive. November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Burke, Melissa Nann (2023-06-05). "Ex-state Rep. Love joins U.S. Senate race in Michigan". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  6. ^ a b Vaughn, Jerome (2023-05-16). "Former Michigan lawmaker Leslie Love announces bid for Stabenow's US Senate seat". WDET 101.9 FM. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  7. ^ "Leslie Love". Marygrove College. Archived from the original on 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  8. ^ "Ask the Candidates - Leslie Love". WXYZ. 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-01-17. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  9. ^ a b "Elect Leslie Love to represent Redford in state House". hometownlife.com. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  10. ^ Gibbons, Lauren (2021-01-05). "Who's new in the Michigan House of Representatives". MLive. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  11. ^ "Governor Whitmer makes appointments to Natural Resources Commission". WLUC. 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  12. ^ Cappelletti, Joey (2023-05-15). "Former Detroit lawmaker joins race for Michigan seat in US Senate". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
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