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Conyers Turns on Conyers In Bid to Replace Conyers

Great nephew of disgraced former congressman challenges signatures on son’s application to run

Former Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., walks down the House steps after voting last November. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Former Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., walks down the House steps after voting last November. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

The Conyers family power struggle intensified Thursday as Ian Conyers, the great nephew of disgraced former Rep. John Conyers Jr., took steps to boot the ex-congressman’s son John Conyers III from the ballot in the race to replace him.

John Conyers III should be kicked from the ballot because he did not collect the requisite 1,000 valid signatures to run for his father’s old seat in Michigan’s 13th District, the formal challenge filed by an attorney for Ian Conyers asserts.

The challenge urges officials to throw out 617 of the 1,240 signatures on John Conyers III’s filing petition because because they came from people who live outside the 13th District; are not registered to vote; and had already signed the petition, The Detroit News reported.

“As is the standard process every election cycle, candidates can challenge petitions to ensure compliance with the spirit and letter of the law,” Ian Conyers, a state senator, told the newspaper.

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Elections staff will review the challenge and provide a report to Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett, who will ultimately make the decision on how to proceed.

John Conyers Jr., 88, at the time the longest-tenured member of Congress, resigned in disgrace last December amid a bevy of sexual harassment allegations after nearly 53 years in the House.

He has endorsed his son to replace him, even though John Conyers III has no experience holding political office.

Six other Democrats have qualified to run in the August primary.

Despite the family tumult, the district, one of the bluest in the country, is expected to remain in Democratic hands.

No Republican has filed to run for the seat, and Hillary Clinton outpaced President Donald Trump by 61 points there in 2016.

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Solid Democratic.

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