Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced that the special election to fill the House seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. John Conyers, who declared his resignation this week amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
“Having ample time for candidates to make a decision about running for office and file their paperwork gives people more options as to who will next represent them in Congress,” Snyder, a Republican, said in a statement Friday. “In order to allow several months for that to take place and to reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers, the primary and general elections will be held when regularly scheduled elections are already occurring.”
A special primary election is scheduled for Aug. 7, 2018, and will be followed by the general election on Nov. 6.
Conyers has endorsed his oldest son, John Conyers III, to take his place in the House, but the younger Conyers is undecided on whether to run. Meanwhile the congressman’s grand-nephew, Ian Conyers, who is a member of the Michigan Senate, has said he plans to run for the seat.
Another Michigan state senator, Coleman Young II, the son of Detroit’s first black mayor, will reportedly announce Monday his intent to run for the seat Conyers held for more than 50 years.
