William Isaac Robinson
(August 21, 1975 – March 29, 2020) was an American attorney and politician who served in the
Michigan House of Representatives as a member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
from 2019 to 2020.
Early life and education
William Isaac Robinson was born on August 21, 1975 in
Lansing, Michigan to
Rose Mary Robinson
Rose Mary Robinson (born December 12, 1939) is an American lawyer and a former Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Early life and education
Rose Mary Robinson was born on December 12, 1939. In 1972, Robinson earned a Ju ...
, an activist and politician. In 1998, Robinson earned a
Bachelor of General Studies A Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) is a highly interdisciplinary undergraduate academic degree offered by colleges and universities that "allows students to combine and explore multiple subjects."
The concept of general studies derives from the ...
from the
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
and
Juris Doctor from the
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law is the law school of Northwestern University, a private research university. It is located on the university's Chicago campus. Northwestern Law has been ranked among the top 14, or "T14" law scho ...
in 2001.
Career
Robinson became a law clerk for
United Automobile Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers (UAW), is an American labor union that represents workers in the United States (including Puerto Rico) ...
. In 2003, Robinson became a political director of Michigan
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), also known as the Teamsters Union, is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of The Team Drivers International Union and The Teamsters National Union, the ...
Joint Council #43 until 2010. In 2012, Robinson started his own law firm.
Politics
Robinson's mother represented the
4th district
Fourth or the fourth may refer to:
* the ordinal form of the number 4
* ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971
* Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision
* Fourth (music), a musical interval
* ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...
in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019. After his mother was prohibited from seeking a fourth term due to term limits, Isaac was part of a crowded field in the Democratic primary to replace her. He won the Democratic primary against thirteen other candidates and easily won in the Democratic-majority district in the general election.
In February 2020, he
endorsed Senator
Bernie Sanders for the
Democratic presidential nomination for the
2020 presidential election
This national electoral calendar for 2020 lists the national/federal elections held in 2020 in all sovereign states and their dependent territories. By-elections are excluded, though national referendums are included.
January
*5 January:
**C ...
. Robinson also served as vice chair for Sanders' Michigan campaign in the Democratic primary. He was a member of the Detroit chapter of the
Democratic Socialists of America
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a Left-wing politics, left-wing Democratic Socialists of America#Tendencies within the DSA, multi-tendency Socialism, socialist and Labour movement, labor-oriented political organization. Its roots ...
.
While in the House of Representatives, Robinson served on the Tax Policy, Commerce and Tourism, and Regulatory Reform committees.
During the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
Robinson supported legislation that would temporarily suspend evictions, foreclosures, and shutting off utilities for ninety days and drafted legislation that would have removed waiting periods for unemployment benefits.
Death
On March 29, 2020, Robinson was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital due to breathing problems and later died. Robinson's death is suspected of being caused by
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...
infection. He was 44 years old.
Following his death, he was praised by Governor
Gretchen Whitmer
Gretchen Esther Whitmer (born August 23, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 ...
, Michigan State Attorney General
Dana Nessel, Michigan House Speaker
Lee Chatfield, Michigan House Minority Leader
Christine Greig
Christine E. Greig (born January 11, 1963) is a former Democratic politician from Michigan, who represented the 37th District which comprises Farmington and Farmington Hills in the Michigan House of Representatives. In her second term, Greig ...
, and Congresswoman
Rashida Tlaib
Rashida Harbi Tlaib (, ; born July 24, 1976) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the U.S. representative for since 2019. The district includes the western half of Detroit, along with several of its western suburbs and much of the ...
.
Robinson was succeeded as representative by
Abraham Aiyash
Abraham Aiyash is an American politician serving as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 4th district. The district covers much of Detroit's Midtown, New Center, North End, Boston Edison, Virginia Park, and all of the c ...
.
Electoral history
See also
*
References
External links
Isaac Robinson at housedems.com
Isaac Robinson at ballotpedia.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Isaac
1975 births
2020 deaths
21st-century American lawyers
21st-century American politicians
Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
Democratic Socialists of America politicians from Michigan
Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Michigan lawyers
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law alumni
Place of birth missing
Politicians from Detroit
Politicians from Lansing, Michigan
University of Michigan alumni