State Sen. Steve Bieda (D-Warren), considered a leading contender to succeed retiring Congressman Sandy Levin, is dropping out of the House race and is instead making a run for Macomb County clerk after the former clerk, Karen Spranger, was removed from office.

Bieda’s decision makes Levin’s son, Andy, the clear favorite to win the heavily Democratic 9th District, which includes portions of Macomb and Oakland counties. The stunning upheaval in the race came after a new poll found Bieda trailing Levin by a 40-18 percent margin. In addition, Bieda’s fundraising had lagged far behind the effort by Levin, a Bloomfield Township Democrat.

“This is a very difficult decision, one I just made,” Bieda said just moments ago. “In fact, I’m still calling my supporters to let them know.

“There is a real need, and a lot of hurt, going on in this county with what has happened at the clerk’s office. I think I can do a lot to address that.”

Spranger, after numerous controversies and allegations of misconduct, was removed from office on March 27 by a court ruling that said she falsified her residence — claiming to live in an apparently abandoned home in Warren — when she filed as a Republican to run for clerk in 2016. A special election in November will choose her successor.

 

THIS STORY WILL BE UPDATED SHORTLY.