{{Short description|American politician (born 1995)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Noah Arbit | image = | state_house = Michigan | district = 20th | term_start = January 1, 2023 | term_end = | predecessor = Matt Koleszar{{efn|Before the 2021 redistricting cycle, nearly two-thirds of the territory represented by Noah Arbit was located within Michigan’s 39th House District, held by then-Rep. Ryan Berman (R-Commerce Township), while Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) represented the old 20th District, in Wayne County.<ref name ="ChaldeanNews">{{cite news|url=https://www.chaldeannews.com/features-1/2022/10/1/the-heat-is-on-mansour-and-arbit-square-off-in-redrawn-michigan-20th|title=The Heat is On: Mansour and Arbit square off in redrawn Michigan 20th|work=Chaldean News|access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en}}</ref>}} | successor = | birth_name = Noah Jeremy Arbit | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|9|21}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, US | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | education = Wayne State University (BA) | website = {{URL|noahformi.com|Campaign website}}<br/>{{URL|https://housedems.com/Noah-Arbit/|Government website}} }}
'''Noah Jeremy Arbit''' (born September 21, 1995) is an American politician serving as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives since 2023, representing the 20th district. He is a member of the Democratic Party.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/CitizensGuide.pdf |title=Michigan Citizen's Guide to State Government, 2025-2026, 103rd Legislature |publisher=Michigan Legislature |year=2025 |location=Lansing, Michigan |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Noah Arbit was born on September 21, 1995, alongside his fraternal twin brother, to parents Edie and Steve Arbit.<ref name="MeetNoah">{{cite web|title=Meet Noah|url=https://noahformi.com/meet-noah/|publisher=NoahforMI.com|access-date=December 7, 2022|location=West Bloomfield, MI, USA}}</ref> Arbit was raised with his two brothers in West Bloomfield Township, and attended Bloomfield Hills Schools, including Lone Pine Elementary School, West Hills Middle School, and Andover High School, before completing high school at the Frankel Jewish Academy in 2013.<ref name="FJA">{{cite web|title=Mazal Tov to FJA alumnus Noah Arbit '13|url=https://www.facebook.com/Frankelja/posts/pfbid02yTr4q9LfPpkngCsZt7sNNctzqyorFQCQd4UPsdwz7x56ibWSp7XJfRrY2Pmsn71Ml|publisher=Frankel Jewish Academy|access-date=December 7, 2022|location=West Bloomfield, MI, USA}}</ref>
In 2018, Arbit graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelor's degree in comparative politics and Jewish studies.<ref name="MeetNoah"/>
== Political career == In 2016, Arbit took a semester off college to work for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, leading the campaign’s organizing efforts in West Bloomfield, Commerce, and Milford townships in central-west Oakland County. He has cited Clinton's loss in the 2016 election as a major turning point in his career, compelling him to shift focus from foreign affairs to local and state politics.<ref name= "MIRS">{{Cite news|url=https://mirs.news/news/capsule/mirs-capitol-capsule-thursday-october-20-2022#70586|title=Arbit Left International Affairs To Focus On Hate Crimes Back Home|work=Michigan Information Research Service|access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en}}</ref>
Following his graduation, Arbit worked as a staffer for Gretchen Whitmer’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign in Oakland County,<ref name ="JewishInsider">{{Cite news|url=https://jewishinsider.com/2021/09/noah-arbit-wants-to-bring-jewish-values-to-the-michigan-statehouse/|title=Noah Arbit wants to bring Jewish values to the Michigan statehouse|work=Jewish Insider|access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en}}</ref> and later, as a fundraiser for the Michigan House Democrats.<ref name ="JewishInsider"/>
Following the 2018 terrorist shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, and a rise in antisemitism nationally, Arbit founded the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus.<ref name ="AdvanceOpEd">{{Cite web|last=Arbit|first=Noah|title=Noah Arbit: Why I founded the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus|url=https://michiganadvance.com/2019/09/15/noah-arbit-why-i-founded-the-michigan-democratic-jewish-caucus/|website=Michigan Advance|date=15 September 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref> As chair of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus, Arbit was outspoken about the need to combat antisemitism in politics, and the importance of Jews running for office in Michigan.<ref name="DJN">{{Cite news|url=https://thejewishnews.com/36under36/noah-arbit/|title= 36 Under 36|work=Detroit Jewish News|access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en}}</ref> He was named to the ''Detroit Jewish News''{{'}} annual "36 Under 36" list in 2020 and 2022.<ref name="DJN"/>
In January 2021, Arbit was appointed Director of Communications for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, serving under Prosecutor Karen McDonald. He organized the Office's first-ever Racial Justice Advisory Council, as well as its first ever Pride celebration.<ref name="MeetNoah"/>
Arbit attended the 50 States One Israel conference.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=September 19, 2025 |title=Greene's Committee Stripped Of Bills For Taking Israel Trip |url=https://home.mirs.news/post/greene-s-committee-stripped-of-bills-for-taking-israel-trip |access-date=September 19, 2025 |website=MIRS.news |language=en}}</ref> Arbit has attributed some criticism of “Gaza genocide” to antisemitism and introduced legislation to more strongly prosecute antisemitic graffiti as a hate crime amid pro-Palestinian protests in Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mackay |first=Hannah |date=February 20, 2024 |title=West Bloomfield state lawmaker condemns pro-Palestine protest as antisemitic |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2024/02/20/west-bloomfield-rep-condemns-pro-palestine-protest-as-anti-semitic/72673097007/ |access-date=September 20, 2025 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== 2022 election === On August 2, 2022, backed by high fundraising and endorsements from U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence, local leaders, and organizations, including the ''Detroit Free Press'',<ref name="FreepAugEndorsement">{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/editorials/2022/07/26/endorsement-free-press-michigan-house-august-primary/10108202002/|title=Endorsement: Free Press Editorial Board's recommendations for Michigan House|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en}}</ref> Arbit came first in a three-way Democratic primary for Michigan's 20th House District, defeating West Bloomfield School District board member Ken Ferguson and former legislative staffer James Sklar by nearly 16 percentage points, with 7,180 votes (46.6%) to Ferguson's 4,785 (31%), and Sklar's 3,448 (22%).<ref name="2022AugResults" />
On November 8, 2022, Arbit was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in the 2022 General Election, defeating Republican Party nominee Albert Mansour with 56.6% of the vote to Mansour's 43.4%.<ref name="2022NovResults"/> Arbit is the youngest openly gay person ever elected to the Michigan Legislature.<ref name ="PrideSource"/>
On December 4, 2022, Arbit was sworn in as State Representative by Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard H. Bernstein at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield. U.S. Representative Haley Stevens also participated in Arbit's ceremony.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nu-detroit.com/swearing-in-arbit/|title=Swearing in State Representative Noah Arbit|work=Nu? Detroit|access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en}}</ref>
===2024 election=== Arbit was reelected in 2024, defeating Republican Party nominee Brendan Cowley with 53.2% of the vote to Cowley's 46.8%.<ref name="mich-2024-general-results">{{cite web|title=2024 Michigan Election Results|url=https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=11-5-2024|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=November 24, 2024|date=November 22, 2024|url-status=live|archive-date=November 24, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241124174348/https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=11-5-2024}}</ref>
== Personal life == Arbit is Jewish; he and his family are congregants at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.<ref name ="FreepAbortion">{{Cite web|last=Warikoo|first=Niraj|title=Jewish community mobilizes for abortion rights at Michigan's largest synagogue|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2022/06/30/jews-rally-abortion-synagogue-michigan/7770470001/|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref> Arbit is also openly gay,<ref name ="PrideSource">{{Cite web|last=King|first=Jon|title=Michigan State Rep. Candidate Noah Arbit on How His Identity as a Gay, Jewish Person Guides His Democratic Values|url=https://pridesource.com/article/michigan-state-rep-candidate-noah-arbit-on-how-his-identity-as-a-gay-jewish-person-guides-his-democratic-values/|website=Pride Source|date=7 July 2022 |access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref> and has cited his experiences as a part of the Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities as compelling him to get involved in politics, to run for office, and particularly, to focus on strengthening Michigan's hate crime laws.<ref name ="AntisemiticVandalism">{{Cite web|last=King|first=Jon|title=Antisemitic vandalism prompts new lawmaker to push for hate crime law overhaul|url=https://michiganadvance.com/2022/11/17/antisemitic-vandalism-prompts-new-lawmaker-to-push-for-hate-crime-law-overhaul/|website=Michigan Advance|date=17 November 2022 |access-date=December 7, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Electoral history ==
{{Election box begin no change | title= 2024 General Election, Michigan’s 20th House District<ref name="2024NovResults">{{cite web|title=2024 Michigan Election Results - November General|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2024GEN_CENR.html|publisher=Department of State, Michigan|access-date=November 6, 2024|location=Lansing, MI, USA}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Noah Arbit (incumbent) |votes = 31,764 |percentage = 53.23 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Brendan Cowley |votes = 27,909 |percentage = 46.77 }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 59,673 |percentage = 100% }} {{Election box hold with party link without swing |winner = Democratic Party (United States) |loser = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 Democratic Primary Election, Michigan’s 20th House District<ref name="2024AugResults">{{cite web|title= 2024 Michigan Election Results - August Primary|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2024PRI_CENR.html|publisher=Department of State, Michigan|access-date=August 7, 2024|location=Lansing, MI, USA}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Noah Arbit (incumbent)|votes= 11,560|percentage=100.0}} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title= 2022 General Election, Michigan’s 20th House District<ref name="2022NovResults">{{cite web|title=2022 Michigan Election Results - November General|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2022GEN_CENR.html|publisher=Department of State, Michigan|access-date=November 9, 2022|location=Lansing, MI, USA|archive-date=November 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129162327/https://mielections.us/election/results/2022GEN_CENR.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Noah Arbit |votes = 27,825 |percentage = 56.64 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Albert Mansour |votes = 21,302 |percentage = 43.36 }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 49,176 |percentage = 100% }} {{Election box gain with party link without swing |winner = Democratic Party (United States) |loser = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2022 Democratic Primary Election, Michigan’s 20th House District<ref name="2022AugResults">{{cite web|title=2022 Michigan Election Results - August Primary|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2022PRI_CENR.html|publisher=Department of State, Michigan|access-date=December 7, 2022|location=Lansing, MI, USA|archive-date=November 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113080839/https://mielections.us/election/results/2022PRI_CENR.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Noah Arbit|votes= 7,180|percentage=46.6}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Ken Ferguson|votes= 4,785|percentage=31.0}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=James Sklar|votes= 3,448|percentage=22.4}} {{Election box end}}
==See also== {{Portal|Judaism|LGBTQ|Michigan|Politics}}
* Michigan's 20th House District * Michigan House of Representatives * 2022 Michigan House of Representatives election * Michigan Democratic Party * West Bloomfield, Michigan
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.noahformi.com/ Campaign website] * [https://housedems.com/Noah-Arbit/ Government website]
{{Michigan House of Representatives}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arbit, Noah}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:People from West Bloomfield, Michigan Category:Gay Jews Category:Jewish state legislators in Michigan Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Michigan Category:Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives Category:Jewish American people in Michigan politics Category:American gay politicians Category:21st-century members of the Michigan Legislature Category:21st-century American Jews Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:LGBTQ liberals