Frank Liberati
Frank Liberati | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 13th district | |
| In office January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Kandrevas |
| Succeeded by | Tullio Liberati |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 7, 1964 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nina |
| Relations | Tullio Liberati (brother) |
| Alma mater | Michigan State University |
| Website | Official website |
Frank A. Liberati[1] (born February 7, 1964)[2] is a Democratic politician from Michigan who formerly represented the 13th District – which comprised the cities of Allen Park and Southgate, and part of Dearborn Heights – in the Michigan House of Representatives after being elected in November 2014.[3][4]
He was a candidate for the newly-drawn Michigan 1st Senate district race in 2022.[5]
Early life and education
Liberati was born in Allen Park, Michigan. At the age of 16, Liberati joined the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and began working at a Farmer Jack supermarket. After graduating from Allen Park High School, Liberati attended Michigan State University. Liberati spent time as a marketing manager, before opening up Liberati's Italian Deli in Allen Park.
Political career
Liberati began his political career in 2004 when he joined the Allen Park school board, and was its president from 2006-2012.
In 2014, Liberati ran for Michigan 13th House district. Liberati defeated Republican challenger Harry Sawicki with 61% of the vote. Liberati would defeat Annie Spencer in 2016 and 2018 with 60.76% and 62.75% of the vote.
Due to term limits, Liberati was unable to seek re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2020. In 2022, he ran for the Michigan State Senate in the 1st district.[5] Liberati competed in the Democratic primary but was defeated by incumbent state senator Erika Geiss, who won approximately 32% of the vote in a multi-candidate field.
In 2026, Liberati announced his candidacy for the Michigan House of Representatives in the 2nd district. He soon filed a legal complaint attempting to get his primary opponent, transgender woman Joanna Whaley, disqualified from the race under Michigan campaign law for not running under her deadname.[6][7] The complaint was dismissed, and he was subsequently defeated by Whaley in the Democratic primary.[8]
Electoral history
| Michigan's 13th District Representative in State Legislature Election, 2014[9] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Frank Liberati | 15,283 | 61.02% |
| Republican | Harry Sawicki | 9,762 | 38.98% |
| Total | 25,045 | 100% | |
| Michigan's 13th District Representative in State Legislature Election, 2016[10] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Frank Liberati | 23,744 | 60.76% |
| Republican | Annie L. Spencer | 15,336 | 39.24% |
| Total | 39,080 | 100% | |
| Michigan's 13th District Representative in State Legislature Election, 2018[11] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Frank Liberati | 21,538 | 62.75% |
| Republican | Annie Spencer | 12,783 | 37.25% |
| Total | 34,321 | 100% | |
References
- ↑ "Michigan Committee Statement of Organization". Michigan Secretary of State. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
- ↑ "State Representative FRANK LIBERATI" (PDF). Michigan Legislature.
- ↑ "Rep. Frank Liberati's Biography". Michigan House Democrats. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ↑ "2014 Live Michigan election results: State House Districts 1-110". MLive. November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- 1 2 Senate, Liberati for Michigan State. "Primary Election August 2, 2022". Liberati for Michigan State Senate. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ↑ López, Quispe (May 1, 2026). "Michigan Dem Claims Trans Primary Opponent Violated Law by Not Running Under Deadname". Them. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Michigan Dem claims trans primary opponent violated law by not running under deadname | Advocate.com". www.advocate.com. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
- ↑ Smith, David (August 5, 2026). "Michigan nominates first trans woman for state legislature". The Guardian. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "2014 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/04/2014". miboecfr.nictusa.com. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ↑ "2016 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/08/2016". miboecfr.nictusa.com. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ↑ "2018 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/06/2018". mielections.us. Archived from the original on February 22, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2018.