Mich. won’t appeal Conyers ballot decision

Michigan won’t appeal a federal judge’s ruling that placed Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) on the Democratic ballot, ending the threat that he would have to run a write-in campaign.

{mosads}The office of Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, a Republican, announced the decision on Friday to let the judge’s ruling stand.

Conyers had originally been ruled ineligible to appear on the ballot for the August primary because local officials found he didn’t submit enough valid petition signatures.

A U.S. district court judge last week, though, overturned that decision, finding it unconstitutional, and issued an order directing the local election commission to place the longtime lawmaker’s name back on the ballot.

Conyers still faces a potentially competitive August primary against Rev. Horace Sheffield (D), whose campaign had challenged the ballot signatures.