The resignation of Detroit Congressman John Conyers leaves a vacancy that must be filled by a special election.
Conyers’ resignation leaves Michigan’s 13th Congressional District without representation. It’s now up to Governor Rick Snyder to set dates for a special primary and a special election. Snyder is a Republican. The seat leans heavily Democratic, but there is bipartisan agreement that Michigan needs the vote restored as soon as possible as Congress deals with Great Lakes funding, invasive species, modernizing the Soo locks, trade deals, and issues important to the auto industry.
Snyder has to give prospective candidates enough time to gather a thousand petition signatures, get ballots printed and sent overseas to military voters, and for them to be returned. Whoever wins the seat will serve less than a year before the term ends.