Debbie Dingell, the wife of retiring Michigan Rep. John Dingell, officially announced Friday that she will run to replace her husband. If she wins, it would keep the seat in the family, as John Dingell’s father preceded him in office.
On Monday, John Dingell, 87, announced that he would retire after his 29th term in office ended. He will have held the office for nearly 60 years, making him the longest-serving Congressman in history.
It was expected that Dingell, 60, would throw her hat into the race and she sent emails to supporters announcing her decision, notes CNN. She said the decision isn’t easy, noting, “John Dingell is irreplaceable. But my drive to serve the people of this great state has led me here today.”
She added, “I think we need more women at the table in politics and I am excited to show the voters just what we can do together.”
Dingell spoke before a crowd at a Dearborn Panera Bread Friday morning and complemented John Dingell’s record and dedication to his district, notes Detroit News.
“I wouldn’t run if I didn’t think I could do a good job for my friends and neighbors and for the men and women of labor that I’ve worked with side-by-side to fight for the jobs and businesses of Michigan,” she told the crowd.
John Dingell’s father was first elected to the seat in 1933 and held the office until his death in 1955. John Dingell, then 29, was elected to replace him. While Dingell’s win would make her the third-straight member of the family to hold the district, Dingell vowed to be different than her husband.
For example, the couple does not agree on gun control. John Dingell is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, while his wife is not. “That is an issue that we do not agree on. We come from very different perspectives,” Dingell said.
Dingell has worked for several charities in the past and is a General Motors executive.
image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
