[5] On December 6, 2006, the Congressional Black Caucus unanimously chose Kilpatrick as its chairwoman for the 110th Congress (2007-8).

[1] In 1996, Kilpatrick challenged three-term incumbent Barbara-Rose Collins in the 1996 Democratic primary for what was then the 15th District.

Kilpatrick's campaign was plagued by the controversy surrounding her son and his involvement in a text messaging sex scandal.

Unlike in 2008, her opposition coalesced around State Senator Hansen Clarke, who defeated her in the August 3 primary.

[6] NPR and CBS News both noted that throughout her re-election campaign, she was dogged by questions about her son, Kwame Kilpatrick, who is in prison on numerous corruption charges.

[7][8] Michigan Live reported that her election defeat could in part be attributed to the Kwame Kilpatrick scandals.