Candidates throw hats into ring for congressional seat

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP (AP) — The son of longtime Michigan Rep. Sander Levin and a state senator are each running to succeed Levin in Congress.

Andy Levin of Bloomfield Township and Sen. Steve Bieda of Warren announced their candidacies last week for the Democratic-leaning 9th Congressional District, which covers parts of Oakland and Macomb counties.

Democrat Sander Levin isn’t seeking re-election to a 19th term.

Andy Levin runs his own clean energy business and led worker retraining in former Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration.

Bieda, an attorney, has been a senator since 2011 and served in the state House from 2003 to 2008.

Among initiatives he has spearheaded are laws to compensate wrongfully convicted prisoners.

Attorney Martin Brook, who served on the Bloomfield Hills school board, also is running.