State Sen. Bert Johnson to Run for 13th District Congressional Seat

Surrounded by friends, families and several political leaders from multiple cities, Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) announced his intention Tuesday to run for U.S. Congress. 

Johnson intends to seek the seat for the 13th District, which at the moment is open after Rep. Hansen Clarke announced his intention to change districts following the approval of new district maps. 

Clarke now represents the current 13th District and John Conyers represents the current 14th District. Conyers has not yet announced his intentions for the upcoming race.

Clarke announced his decision to seek the seat for the new 14th District on Facebook, according to The Detroit News, as his current district will change to include fewer of the suburbs and more of Detroit. 

The Grosse Pointes are now represented by the 13th District but will be a part of the new 14th District. 

Johnson said he plans to focus on people rather than politics and will rely on hard work and making friends with the president rather than picking political fights. He noted his family's long history in the Detroit area and his desire to improve the cities. 

He also noted his record as a state senator, crediting himself with opening the communication between the Democrats in the minority with the Democrats in the majority. He said he was willing to put aside differing views to work together to make progress. 

Jobs and mass transit are two of the issues he plans to address during his campaign, and, if elected, while in office.

Similar to the new districts approved for the state house map, the new U.S. districts approved in late July are being questioned by many politicians. There has been as a possibility in both sets of redrawn maps, but there is yet to be any filed. 

The , adding larger portions of Detroit to each new district and effectively diluting the voice of residents in the five Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods.