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

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