Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus whose son, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D), has been embroiled in a personal scandal, appears to have drawn two credible Democratic primary challengers.

As the state’s filing deadline drew to a close on Tuesday, state Sen. Martha Scott and former state Rep. Mary Waters had filed papers to run for the seat that Kilpatrick has held since 1997.

In a recent interview with WXYZ-TV, Waters faulted Kilpatrick for not siding with Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) in the Democratic presidential contest.

“The mayor’s mother is out of touch with the people that she purports to represent,” Waters said.

The scandal surrounding Mayor Kilpatrick involves his liaison with his former chief of staff and attempts by members of his administration to pressure high-ranking police officers to remain mum about the relationship. Former Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown, who had been pushed out of his job in connection with the scandal, had threatened to run against Congresswoman Kilpatrick in the August primary, but at press time Tuesday it looked as if he did not file for the race.

The Detroit City Council on Tuesday voted to oust Kilpatrick from City Hall.

Tough Name to Spell, Very Tough Race Ahead

State Rep. Jack Hoogendyk (R) officially launched his long-shot bid to topple five-term Sen. Carl Levin (D), filing papers to run on Monday.

“I realize it’s an uphill battle,” the Republican told The Detroit News.

Hoogendyk, who is expected to have the Republican field all to himself, told the newspaper that he’s raised about $100,000 for the campaign so far. Through March 31, Levin had more than $4.1 million in the bank.

The 74-year-old incumbent has seen his margins of victories go up every six years since winning with 52 percent in 1978 and 1984.

— Josh Kurtz