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Debbie Dingell Officially Kicks Off Congressional Campaign

Andrew Cluley

Debbie Dingell formally announced today she's running for the 12th Congressional seat her husband has held for nearly 60 years.  Dingell had kick-off events in Dearborn, Ann Arbor, and Ypsilanti.

Dingell told supporters at an event at Ann Arbor's Home and Garden she wanted John Dingell to run again. She thinks he's irreplaceable, but also believes she can serve the district well.  Dingell joked she knows how big the shoes she's trying to fill are since she buys them.  

Ann Arbor resident Peter Eckstein thinks she's a worthy successor to her husband because she's already been doing a lot of good work for the community and all across Michigan.

Ypsilanti resident Mary Gooden also supports Dingell.  She notes Dingell has been serving on the sideline for years so she's ready to work both in Washington D-C and back here in the district.

State Senator Rebekah Warren this morning told 89.1 WEMU's David Fair she's launched an exploratory committee to look into a possible run for the seat as well.
 

Click here for Warren's interview on 89.1 WEMU.

 
An Inside Michigan Politics poll of potential challengers to replace John Dingell in the 12th Congressional District shows Debbie Dingell with a big lead.  State Representative Jeff Irwin from Ann Arbor was included in the poll, but Irwin says he isn't thinking about the U-S house.  Irwin thinks a race between Debbie Dingell and Rebekah Warren would be very interesting with the community well served by excellent candidates. He's not prepared to throw his support behind any candidate yet.

Media reports say Republican Terry Bowman will announce Monday he's running for the seat as well.

— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.

Like many, I first came to this area when I started school at the University of Michigan, then fell in love with the community and haven’t left. After graduating from U of M in the mid 1990’s I interned at WDET for several years, while also working a variety of jobs in Ann Arbor. Then in 1999 I joined the WEMU news team.
Contact David: dfair@emich.edu
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