Michigan Democratic congressional delegation backs challenger to state party Chairman Mark Brewer

Michigan's Democratic congressional delegation wants to replace the long-time chairman of the state Democratic Party.

Sens. Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow and five members of the U.S. House wrote an open letter to Democrats Tuesday backing Lon Johnson over incumbent Mark Brewer. Brewer has served as party chairman for 18 years and is hoping to be re-elected later this month.

But support from some heavy-hitters is growing for Johnson, who lost a state House election in northern Michigan in 2012. His wife was deputy campaign manager for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.

Obama and Stabenow won in Michigan, but Republicans kept control of state government. Congressional Democrats aren't happy about losses at state and local levels that culminated with GOP passage of a right-to-work law.

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