Debbie Dingell Makes History—Captures Husband’s Seat in U.S. House of Representatives

IN AN OCTOBER 2014 piece titled “Who to Watch in House Class of 2014” newly-elected Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) was dubbed one of the “operators.” Fundraising in the race for Michigan’s 12th congressional district was one-sided. Debbie Dingell raised over $1.3 million. Republican Terry Bowman raised just over $42,000. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, more than half of Mrs. Dingell’s campaign war chest came from sources outside the state, including DC and Virginia.

Politico’s Alex Isenstadt writes, “Some of the incoming House freshmen will be relative political newcomers and will need to learn how to navigate the rough political waters of the Capitol. But for a few others, no introduction will be necessary. Take Debbie Dingell, a Democratic National Committee member and veteran of the Michigan political scene. She also happens to be the wife of the lawmaker she will succeed in Congress: retiring Rep. John Dingell, the House’s longest-serving member. Well-versed on the political dynamics shaping the chamber, she has long been her husband’s closest adviser. When Caongress is in session, it’s not unusual to see Debbie Dingell lingering just off the House floor.”

Debbie Dingell is one of several women poised to break  the political glass ceiling. With her election, she became the first U.S. woman in Congress to succeed her husband while he is still alive.

John D. Dingell, Jr., the longest-serving member of Congress, announced his retirement in 2014. Since the 1930s, this Michigan district has only been served by someone with the last name of Dingell. John Dingell Sr., the former congressman’s father, was the first person elected to the newly created seat in 1932. When Dingell, Sr. died, he was replaced by his son in 1955.

Even prior to her election, Dingell was involved in DC horsetrades. Since January, Reps. Frank Pallone Jr. and Anna G. Eshoo have been positioning themselves as the obvious choice to be the top Democrat on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.

They’ve both posted big fundraising numbers in Federal Election Commission filings and shown their willingness throughout the cycle to spend generously on House Democratic candidates and incumbents, drawing from respective congressional and leadership political action committees.

According to the most recent numbers made public, Pallone spent roughly $605,000 on House races since launching his bid to succeed Waxman, while Eshoo doled out approximately $482,000 for the same purposes in the same period.

They gave money to many of the same candidates, even those not in especially tight races, as shows of goodwill or perhaps in efforts to woo undecideds.

They doled out funds to Debbie Dingell. Rep. John D. Dingell, was the longtime top Democrat on Energy and Commerce before being usurped by Waxman in 2008.

Not everyone is pleased by Debbie Dingell’s election. Dennis Mansfield writing in The Leader Kalkaskian opined that America’s Founding Fathers wouldn’t be thrilled at Mrs. Dingell’s election:

However, come January, I will not be one of the Michiganders celebrating the 59-year run of U.S. Rep. John Dingell Jr.’s tenure in Congress. Dingell first took office in Dec. 13, 1955, winning a special election to replace his father who had passed away.

Now, it’s amazing to think that a Dingell has continually served in Congress since 1933, when John Dingell Sr. started his tenure in the House. And, the streak could continue, if Dingell Jr.’s wife, Debbie, wins election to her husband’s soon-to-be former seat in November.

I’m sorry, but I have a huge issue with this. And, I’m pretty sure our Founding Fathers would, too.

Serving in Congress was never intended to be a career. The Founding Fathers believed, while it was an honor to serve one’s country, most would also only do it for a fairly limited time, as the demands of their personal and professional lives would not allow for longer tenures.

While campaigning in the 12th Dsitrict, Mrs. Dingell was missed by DC insiders at fundraisers and galas. In an Oct. 13 piece about a glitzy fundraiser put on by the Kuwaiti Ambassador, and attended by Vice President Biden, Women’s Wear Daily caught up with Mrs. Dingell. The piece at once highlights Dingell’s dedication to her Michigan race and the fact that Mrs. Dingell is a noted and notable political partier: “On the political front, Debbie Dingell seemed reluctant to be caught partying less than a month before the November election. Dingell is running for Michigan’s 12th congressional seat to succeed her husband, who retired this year after taking over the seat in 1955 when his own father retired from the job. ‘I’ve been out in the district the last 65 days,’ said Dingell. ‘That’s why you haven’t seen me at any parties like this.’”

Mrs. Dingell even ended up as an example of the American political “careerist” in the Spanish language magazine Excelsior. Writer Félix Cortés Camarillo, in penning a piece about Mexican career politicians pointed to Americans who fall into the category:

“Un ejemplo brillante: John Dingell ha sido diputado demócrata por Michigan desde 1955; sí, 59 de sus 88 años. En febrero de este año decidió que no buscaría la enésima reelección el cuatro de noviembre, que el Partido Demócrata debería buscar un candidato para su escaño. La candidata de su partido es Deborah Debbie Dingell; es su esposa, que nació en 1956, cuando ya John llevaba un año de diputado. Suena familiar, ¿no?”

Translation: A shining example of political careerism is John Dingell who has represented Michigan in the House of Representatives since 1955; yes, 59 of his 88 years. In Febraury of this year, he decided to not seek re-election. The Democratic Party had to select a candidate to replace him. The candidate chosen is Deborah ‘Debbie’ Dingell: his wife, who was born in 1956, the year after John was elected to office. Sounds familiar, no?

Like it or not, Mrs. Dingell, 60, is going to Washington, DC to represent the Michigan 12th Congressional District. She will come back to her district frequently to attend not-so-glitzy UAW chicken dinners, local Democratic meetings, fundraisers and college Dem student gatherings. She’ll eat pancakes at annual unity breakfasts after Democratic primary elections. She’ll walk in Fourth of July parades and greet her constituents, remarkably, by name.

As all of the articles written about her election observe, Rep. Debbie Dingell will hit the ground running in Washington, all history aside.