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John Conyers III (Photo: Facebook)
The already-crowded field of Democratic candidates for the 13th Congessional primary race just got more crowded.
John Conyers III on Monday entered the race, and a new poll suggests he has a shot at winning the seat held for over a half-century by his father, the late John Conyers.
"I am running for Congress because I believe Detroit deserves leadership," the 31-year-old told the Free Press. "It's important we have young leadership with innovative ideas."
A poll released last week by the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party Organization, and conducted by Public Policy Polling, showed Conyers leading with 19 percent, followed by Sharon McPhail with 9 percent, Shri Thanedar with 7 pecent, Adam Hollier at 6 percent, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo with 6 percent, Ralph Godbee with 5 percent, Portia Roberson with 4 percent, a couple of candidates with 0 percent and 43 percent undecided. The poll was released before Conyers officially announced his candidacy.
Conyers has moved back and forth between Detroit and California and has worked with a private hedge fund, the Freep reports.
The newly drawn 13th Congressional District serves Detroit, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Garden City, Highland Park, Inkster, Melvindale, Redford, River Rouge, Romulus, Wayne and Westland.
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib represents the 13th Congressional District now and is running this year in the 12th. A poll in January showed her with a commanding lead.
Four years ago, Conyers was kept off the ballot after the Wayne County election officials said he didn't have enough valid election petition signatures. His father, who died in October 2019 at age 90, resigned in 2017 in wake of allegations that he sexually harassed female staff members and secretly used taxpayer money to settle a harassment claim.
