Dr. Death Launches Congressional Bid

As if Congress’ reputation isn’t dreary enough, Dr. Jack Kevorkian — aka Dr. Death — announced his candidacy Monday in Michigan’s 9th district, currently represented by GOP Rep. Joseph Knollenberg. Kevorkian gained infamy in the 1990s by helping a number of terminally ill patients commit suicide. For his troubles, the controversial pathologist was convicted of second-degree murder. He served time in a Michigan prison for eight years, from 1999 to 2007.

Kevorkian will run as an independent. He has vowed, according to the Detroit Free Press, to raise awareness of the Ninth Amendment. This amendment dictates that the rights named in the Constitution do not steal from others not specified.

The announcement could complicate things for Knollenberg’s Democratic opponent, Gary Peters, the Detroit Free Press reports. While Knollenberg won the seat in 2006 with just 52 percent of the vote — and the Cook Political Report, a non-partisan campaign analyst group, lists the 2008 race for Michigan’s 9th district as among the nation’s most competitive — Kevorkian will likely appeal to more liberal voters. Maybe he’ll steal supporters from Peters.