Let the Hunger Games begin and may luck be ever in her favor: Democrat Debbie Dingell was sworn in today and is expected to hit the ground running, much like Katniss Everdeen. A member of the 114th Congress, Mrs. Dingell will represent Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, which includes Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Dearborn and other Downriver communities including Taylor, Woodhaven and Grosse Ile.
“I am honored to represent the 12th District and serve the neighborhoods, communities and families I’ve worked with my entire life,” said Dingell. “My priority is to put the people of Michigan first every single day, and I am eager to get to work on bipartisan solutions that help grow our economy and create good-paying jobs, make sure health care is affordable, and ensure college is within reach for middle class families. These are not Democratic or Republican concerns, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move our state and our country forward,” said Rep. Dingell.
Is Rep. Dingell ready for her close-up? In a Nov. 24, 2014 piece published in the New York Times, Debbie Dingell was described as a “convener” in the words of Anita Dunn, a Democratic strategist. Mrs. Dingell is a member of the Democratic National Committee, yet a former Republican (she switched parties when she and Mr. Dingell married) with ties on both sides of the aisle.
Representative Steny H. Hoyer, the No. 2 ranking Democrat in the House told the Times, “I don’t know that I have the contacts that Debbie has in this town.”
Mrs. Dingell won her election against a Republican autoworker, Terry Bowman, with 65 percent of the vote. He raised $42,000 for his campaign. She raised nearly $1.4 million.
“We’re coming up on almost a century of Dingells, and Debbie Dingell is a power in her own right,” said Susan Demas, editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, a political newsletter. “If you are a Democrat in this state, you do not want to cross her. She is extremely well connected, she is an excellent fund-raiser, and she has a very, very long memory.”
Washington insiders point out that Mrs. Dingell’s relationship with Rep. Nancy Pelosi, arguably one of the most powerful women in Congress, has had rough patches.
In 2002, when Mr. Dingell faced a primary challenge from Ann Arbor Rep. Lynn Rivers, Ms. Pelosi sided with his opponent. In 2008, Ms. Pelosi sided with Representative Henry A. Waxman, the California Democrat, when Mr. Waxman challenged Mr. Dingell for his chairmanship — and won.
Mrs. Dingell is quoted as recalling that moment as “a difficult time.” However, she insists that she and Rep. Pelosi are “very civil” and have no issues.
Congresswoman Dingell’s offices in Michigan and Washington, DC are already open and ready to serve constituents. Dingell’s district offices continue to be located in easily-accessible locations at 19855 West Outer Drive, Suite 103-E, in Dearborn, and at 301 West Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, in Ypsilanti. Dingell’s Washington office is located at 116 Cannon House Office Building. Constituents are welcome to visit the offices or contact Congresswoman Dingell to share their thoughts and concerns.