The 2018 election will bring a new representative to the 13th US congressional district for the first time since the 1960s, after John Conyers stepped down following multiple sexual harassment allegations.
The race to replace him will appear twice on Tuesday’s ballot. Once for a new 2-year term, and once for the roughly two months that was left on Conyers existing term that ends January 2019.
The seat has sat empty since Conyers announced his retirement after a weeks-long scandal.
Former aide Marion Brown, who previously settled a claim against Conyers for more than $20,000, made her allegations against the congressman public.
Other woman shared similar allegations after. Conyers denied the allegations while stepping down from committee roles.
He was admitted to a hospital for stress-induced health problems, then announced he was leaving Congress at the end of 2017.
Detroit political consultant Steve Hood said there could’ve been a special election to fill the rest of Conyers' term.
“Governor Snyder decided that he did not want to do a special election beforehand, so the 13th district, because of Gov. Snyder, has remained unrepresented,” said Hood.
On Tuesday’s ballot to finish the remainder of Conyers term are four Democratic candidates:
John Conyers' grand-nephew and state senator Ian Conyers, Detroit Councilwoman Brenda Jones, former state representative Rashida Tlaib and Westland Mayor Bill Wild.
The same four candidates, plus State Sen. Coleman Young II and former state representative Shanelle Jackson, are all vying for the new term beginning in January 2019.
Whoever wins Tuesday’s primary for each term will win the seat since there are no Republican challengers.
