Yet another in a long run of recent announcements by Democrats:
Debbie Dingell, a Democratic power broker and chairwoman of the Wayne State University Board of Governors, is expected to run for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, now that her husband, U.S. Rep. John Dingell, announced his retirement Monday, political experts said.
Debbie Dingell, one of Michigan’s longtime representatives on the Democratic National Committee and a former president of the General Motors Foundation, decided in April not to run for the U.S. Senate to replace the retiring Carl Levin, D-Detroit, saying she wanted to avoid a costly primary with U.S. Rep. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township. The move effectively cleared the field for Peters, who is running against Republican Terri Lynn Land.
The retirement of John Dingell, 87, unlocks another rare open seat in Washington for Michigan’s politically ambitious Democrats, who often are sidelined by senior members serving in Congress for decades. If Debbie Dingell enters the race for the seat that includes parts of Wayne and Washtenaw counties, she would be the one candidate who could discourage others from competing.
“She would be the prohibitive favorite in the race,” said Lansing-based political consultant T.J. Bucholz.
