Rabhi announced his candidacy for Representative for Michigan's 53rd District in September 2015. The seat was left vacant by Democrat Jeff Irwin who was term limited. Irwin - alongside a majority of local elected officials like Ann Arbor Mayor Chris Taylor and the entire Ann Arbor City Council – endorsed Rabhi's candidacy. Rabhi ran on a platform that sought to secure "a healthier Environment, a resilient Economy, a strong Public Education system, and Equity for all".
