Ms. Kilpatrick, a seven-term congresswoman representing a section of Detroit, fended off a primary challenge in 2008. But she could not repeat the trick this time around, more because of her son’s legal troubles than anything she did. Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit, pleaded guilty and served jail time for two felony charges in late 2008, and he was indicted again on new charges earlier this year.
State Sen. Hansen Clarke (D) took advantage of the Kilpatrick family’s woes and ran an anticorruption campaign, railing against the effect of dynasty politics on the Detroit area. The message resonated with voters in the 13th District, who handed Mr. Clarke a narrow victory Aug. 3: 47 percent to 41 percent.
