Did Michigan's 12th District Remain in the Family?

Democrat Debbie Dingell will succeed her husband and represent Michigan’s 12th District Congress after winning a 61 percent of the vote with 23 percent of precincts reporting.

Republican challenger Terry Bowman had 34 percent of the vote.

U.S. Rep. John Dingell, 87, the longest-serving member ever of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced in February that he would not seek a an unprecedented 30th term.

Among the factors he cited in his decision to retire from the 12th District was continued frustration with partisan gridlock. During the partial government shutdown in October, he delivered a fiery speech on the House floor and said he had “never seen such small-minded miserable behavior in this House of Representatives and such a disregard of our responsibilities to the people.”

“The American people could get better government out of monkey island in the local zoo,” he said. “I’m embarrassed and I’m humiliated, and I certainly hope that my colleagues on both sides — especially on the Republican side — are embarrassed. This is going to cost us huge amounts of money.”

Debbie Dingell announced days later that she would run for the seat.

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John and Debbie Dingell via Getty Images