Democrat Adam Hollier announced Tuesday morning that he is suspending his campaign for Michigan Secretary of State to run for re-election to the Michigan State Senate District 3. Hollier previously served two terms in the state Senate before being appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to lead the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
Senate District 3 includes Hamtramck, Highland Park and the east side of Detroit. Hollier, who is a U.S. Army paratrooper and former firefighter, previously represented the district and said he is returning to the race to ensure strong leadership for the community.
Hollier emphasized that his decision to switch races was driven by a commitment to community representation. “This race was never about me, it was about ensuring strong Black leadership at every level in our state,” Hollier said. “It is with that higher purpose that I am stepping aside in my race for Secretary of State and running for re-election to the State Senate, in the hopes that our community will be able to come together and ensure we have real representation up and down the ballot in November.”
A lifelong resident of Detroit, Hollier was raised in a family that has lived in the city since the 1940s. His father, Carl, was a union firefighter and his mother, Jacqueline, worked as a social worker. Hollier is a graduate of Detroit Public Schools and a member of the American Federation of Teachers Local 6075. He and his wife, Krystle, are raising their two children in the same community where he grew up.
Hollier has a long history of volunteer and military service, including work as a disaster relief coordinator in Biloxi, Miss., following Hurricane Katrina. He currently serves as a team chief and paratrooper in the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion of the U.S. Army Reserve. Hollier said his history as a firefighter and Army captain shaped his approach to leadership. “I’m seeking re-election to the Michigan State Senate where I know I can best serve,” Hollier said. “Service is in my bones.”
During his previous tenure in the state Senate, Hollier helped secure more than $40 million for District three. This funding supported business development, job training and local institutions including the Motown Museum, Focus Hope and the Ruth Ellis Center. He also focused on criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ rights and lead pipe replacement.
Hollier highlighted his record of supporting both individual constituents and large-scale local industries. “As a State Senator, I was able to help keep people in their homes, keep factories open and veterans off the street,” Hollier said. He noted that he helped pass legislation to reduce costs for retirees and supported the Flip the Script program. In 2018, Hollier worked with UAW leaders to transition a closing auto plant into Factory Zero, an electric vehicle manufacturing facility.
Beyond his legislative work, Hollier has been an advocate for voting rights and fair redistricting. In 2020, he worked at a vote counting center to protect the rights of Detroit voters. He was also among the first to raise concerns regarding the redistricting process, arguing for maps that would not weaken the power of voters of color.
In 2023, Gov. Whitmer appointed Hollier as director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. In that role, Hollier worked to double the state’s veteran database and expand employment programs. He also collaborated with the governor to create initiatives addressing veteran suicide and homelessness before stepping down to pursue his current political bids.
Hollier will seek the state Senate seat in the upcoming November election. He stated that his priorities in Lansing will include addressing the cost of living and defending fundamental freedoms.