Shri Thanedar
DemocratU.S. Representative, MI-13| Age | 71 (b. 1955-02-22) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2023-01-03 (~3 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | South Asian / Indian American |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Education | B.S. Chemistry, Karnatak University; M.S. Chemistry, University of Mumbai; Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Akron (1982); Postdoctoral Research, University of Michigan (1982–1984); M.B.A., Fontbonne University (1988) |
| Prior occupation | Chemist and entrepreneur; founder/CEO of Chemir Analytical Services, Azopharma Contract Pharmaceutical Services, and Avomeen Analytical Services |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Chikkodi, Karnataka (then Mysore State), India (foreign-born) |
| Languages | English, Marathi (native), Kannada, Hindi |
| Marital status | married — Shashi Thanedar (m. 1999; current); Shamal (m. 1984, d. 1996) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Palmer Woods neighborhood, Detroit, Michigan |
Pending research: notable relatives · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2020 |
| Previous offices | Michigan House of Representatives, District 3 (2021–2023) |
| Committees | House Committee on Agriculture · House Committee on Homeland Security |
| Caucuses | Congressional Progressive Caucus · New Democrat Coalition · Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Dharma Caucus (co-founder) |
| Leadership | Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations (Small Business Committee) · Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security (Homeland Security Committee) |
| Party history | Democrat; was also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which he publicly resigned from in October 2023 citing DSA's response to Hamas's attack on Israel; remained in the Democratic Party throughout |
| Ideology | Member of Congressional Progressive Caucus; Heritage Action scorecard rated him 11% (118th Congress), indicating a strongly progressive/liberal voting record; resigned from DSA over Israel stance, signaling hawkish foreign policy views |
| Signature legislation | Tax Relief for Fired Workers Act (H.R. 2655) — to repeal federal income taxes on unemployment benefits · Improving Access to Institutional Mental Health Care Act (H.R. 8767) — to expand Medicaid coverage for mental health institutions · Protecting Passengers from Discrimination Act (H.R. 8641) · DOE and SBA Research Act (H.R. 788) — lead Democratic sponsor · Resolution condemning Hinduphobia (bipartisan, reintroduced 2025) · Articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump (April 2025, 7 articles) |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $-17,623,950–$27,465,000 (2023) · estimate
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | stock · $500,000–$1,000,000 · 2023 |
| Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) | stock · $250,001–$500,000 · 2023 |
| DFA Global Allocation Mutual Fund | fund · $1,000,000–$5,000,000 · 2023 |
| iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF | fund · $1,000,000–$5,000,000 · 2023 |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund | fund · $1,000,000–$5,000,000 · 2023 |
| Rental property, Ann Arbor, MI | real_estate · $1,000,000–$5,000,000 · 2023 |
| Rental property, Oxford, NJ | real_estate · $1,000,000–$5,000,000 · 2023 |
Top donors: American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) ($157,647) · United Democracy Project (AIPAC-affiliated super PAC) ($950,000 (outside spending, 2024 primary))
Top industries: Candidate self-financing (55.98% of 2024 funding) · Pro-Israel organizations / PACs · Defense contractors (Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics) · Technology (Google) · Pharmaceutical (Pfizer) · Automotive (Ford, GM, Toyota)
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — Bank of America v. Thanedar Companies — Loan Default Receivership (AniClin) business
In April 2010, Bank of America sued six of Thanedar's companies in federal court in Missouri after they defaulted on approximately $23 million in loans. One of the companies, AniClin Preclinical Services in New Jersey, housed 118 beagles and 55 monkeys used for pharmaceutical testing. A court-appointed receiver (MorrisAnderson) took over the companies. Bank of America offered to fund continued care of the animals during proceedings, but lawyers for Thanedar's companies did not respond to the offer, according to bank attorneys. The receiver's CEO later testified some animals were 'starving' before the receiver intervened. The court ultimately ordered the animals placed in sanctuaries. No criminal animal cruelty charges were filed against Thanedar. The matter was a civil loan-default/receivership proceeding.
resolved — Bank of America Lawsuit — Companies' Default on $23M in Loans; AniClin Animal Abandonment business
In April 2010, Bank of America sued six of Thanedar's companies in bankruptcy court after they defaulted on approximately $23 million in loans. One of the seized companies, AniClin Preclinical Services in New Jersey, housed 118 beagles and 55 monkeys used for pharmaceutical testing. Bank of America asserted it offered to allow AniClin to continue caring for animals at the bank's expense during proceedings, but that Thanedar's lawyers ignored the offers. In June 2010, Thanedar's attorneys contested a motion to place animals in sanctuaries, arguing they had commercial value of $189,000–$445,000 and should be sold to other labs. The bankruptcy judge ultimately ordered the animals placed in sanctuaries; the objection by Thanedar's attorneys was subsequently withdrawn. Court-appointed receiver MorrisAnderson reported some animals were 'starving' before intervention. Animals were rescued by July 4, 2010. Thanedar disputed knowledge of the bank's care offer.
settled — Avomeen Holdings Fraud Lawsuit (Business Sale Fraud Allegation) business
In November 2017, Avomeen Holdings LLC (the buyer of Thanedar's majority stake in Avomeen) filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Detroit against Thanedar and his company Chemreal LLC, alleging he made fraudulent and misleading representations about company finances to inflate the sale price before the November 2016 transaction netting Thanedar approximately $20 million. The complaint alleged Thanedar directed employees to backdate invoices and smooth over volatile revenue to make income appear more stable, and claimed economic damages of approximately $7–8 million. Thanedar denied all allegations. The case was settled out of court in August 2019, four days before trial was set to begin; U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain dismissed the case upon notice of settlement. Terms were not disclosed.