Editorial: Our pick for Congress from the 11th District

For a guide to The Detroit News endorsements in all races so far, click here.

The 2018 Democratic landslide in Michigan turned the 11th Congressional District, a longstanding Republican stronghold, blue.

Democrat Haley Stevens won the seat and is now completing her freshman term. Stevens is a good retail politician and has worked to familiarize herself with the district. She's also a reliable vote for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's progressive agenda.

The race this year presents the 11th District with an opportunity to return to its traditional conservative roots, as well as help provide a better ideological balance to Congress.

Republican challenger Eric Esshaki is a principled conservative with a good feel for the people of the district and the challenges they face.

Esshaki is the son of a Chaldean immigrant who grew up in Southgate. The former registered nurse is now a practicing attorney living in Birmingham.

He's pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and sees the nation's monumental debt as a threat to the future of his two sons. That's how all Americans should view today's prolific unfunded spending.

The district covers southern Oakland and western Wayne counties and comprises one of the nation's most diverse and prosperous business communities. Esshaki advocates a review of regulations impacting small businesses and revoking those that impose a needless burden. He supports vigorous, legal immigration to fuel growth. And he sees a limited role for government in the private economy.

Similarly, he believes the federal government should play a very small role in education and that decisions about how children should be educated are best made at the local level.  

On health care, the challenger opposes universal, government run insurance and would focus instead on reducing treatment costs to make care more affordable. His background as a nurse gives him personal experience with how the challenges of navigating health insurance impact individual patients.

Eric Esshaki has the potential to become an influential, young conservative voice in Congress, and the voters of the 11th District should send him there. 

Endorsements are determined independently by The Detroit News Editorial Board and have no influence on news coverage.