District 8

Yousef Rabhi (D)

Commissioner, District 8

Phone: 734-222-6850
Email Yousef Rabhi

After six years in Lansing as State Representative for Michigan’s 53rd House District, Yousef Rabhi returns to serve Washtenaw County as County Commissioner for District 8.

Born in Ypsilanti and growing up on the north side of Ann Arbor, Rabhi has a lifelong passion for the Washtenaw County community. He is a graduate of Ann Arbor Public Schools, attending Northside, Bach Open, Clague, and Huron High schools. At the University of Michigan, he earned a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Science specializing in Urban Planning and Ecosystem Management. While there, Rabhi worked for social change as an activist in the peace, labor, and environmental movements.

Rabhi was first elected to the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners in 2010. In his six year tenure, he served as Board Chair, Vice Chair, and Working Sessions Chair. As Board Chair for the 2013-14 session, Rabhi passed the county’s first balanced four-year budget, created the County ID program, and established a county dental clinic, among other achievements. He served on committees and commissions covering public safety, public works, solid waste management, transportation, regional cooperation, human service funding, land preservation, and food policy. 

While serving the community as a County Commissioner, Rabhi built a career in public land stewardship and ecosystem management working at both the City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation and the University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum.

In 2016, Rabhi was elected to Michigan’s House of Representatives representing the 53rd House District, which includes the city of Ann Arbor and portions of Pittsfield, Ann Arbor, and Scio townships. In his three terms, he was a consistent progressive voice with a track record of putting the interests of the people before lobbyists and corporations. Rabhi fought for single-payer universal healthcare, reversed cuts to funding for public schools and universities, and introduced transformative policies moving Michigan toward a renewable energy future. In 2019, he was elected to serve as House Democratic Floor Leader, a role which he held until he was term limited in December 2022. As Floor Leader, Rabhi brought the Democratic caucus together to push back against regressive policies and organize to support working families in Michigan.

Rabhi was sworn in to serve again as Washtenaw County Commissioner in January 2023. He looks forward to continuing to be a staunch advocate for working people, the planet, and building a more equitable future for Washtenaw County.