Sen. Glenn Anderson To Run For Congress

WAYNE (AP) - Michigan state Sen. Glenn Anderson announced plans Friday to run for Congress, telling supporters the last time he remembers losing an election was more than two decades ago when he sought a spot on the Wayne-Westland school board.

The 57-year-old Democrat's pursuit will have to go through long-serving Democratic U.S. Rep. John Conyers, who also will run in the redrawn 13th Congressional District.

Conyers currently represents the 14th District. The redrawn 13th District takes in more of the area Conyers currently represents.

Michigan is losing one congressional seat, dropping to 14 from 15, because of declining population. The newly drawn 13th District stretches from Detroit south to Ecorse and west to Westland, Wayne and Romulus.

"I just feel this is the time to do it, if I'm ever going to," Anderson told The Associated Press Friday. "I do believe the entire district deserves more attention. The area is in great need of leadership right now."

Anderson is in his fifth year in Michigan's Senate. He also has served six years in the state House and on the Westland City Council.

His paperwork for the 13th District was filed this week with the Federal Election Commission.

"I'm in this race," Anderson said. "I see it as a winnable seat. I don't get in elections unless I plan on winning."

Other candidates have said they will run, but only Conyers, who has spent 24 terms in Congress, has submitted a "statement of candidacy," according to the FEC website.

Conyers has been a member of the U.S. House since 1965. His office did not return phone calls to the AP.

Freshman Democratic lawmaker Hansen Clarke, who now represents the 13th District, will run in the 14th District, which now includes parts of Oakland and Wayne counties. Democratic Congressman Gary Peters of Oakland County's Bloomfield Township announced last month that he will run in the redrawn 14th District.

U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter will run in the 11th District, which encompasses parts of Oakland County and Wayne County. State Sen. Mike Kowall has said he will run in that district. Kerry Bentivolio of Milford has said he will oppose McCotter and Kowall in the Republican primary, according to The Detroit News.

Read Tim Kiska's Blog on the race for congress, here.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.