Although incumbents almost always win congressional re-election campaigns, Rep. Lynn Rivers may have a tough fight in 2002.

Rivers (D-Ann Arbor), who plans to seek re-election to her fifth term in 2002, has several hurdles to clear. With Michigan losing one congressional seat, the Republican majorities in the state Legislature have crafted a redistricting bill that places the hometowns of Rivers and long-time Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) in the same district.

The bill is expected to pass the Legislature in the next few months.

If she does not move from Ann Arbor into another district, Rivers would face Dingell in the Democratic primary next August.

First elected in 1955, he is the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives and the ranking Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

But Rivers said last night she doesn"t plan to move and she definitely plans to seek re-election, no matter who her opponent is.

"Whatever district I run in, Ann Arbor"s going to be a part of it," she told members of the University"s chapter of College Democrats.

Rivers said after the meeting she also expects Democrats to prevail in adjusting the districts to secure her a safer seat. The party is currently challenging the redrawn districts with a lawsuit in U.S. district court in Detroit. Since Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature, the governor"s office and the state Supreme Court, Rivers" chances of re-election may hinge on her party"s ability to argue its case in court.

"This one is very clearly a partisan gerrymander if it puts six Democrats into three seats," she said. "This is about getting through the line-drawing what they couldn"t get in the ballot box and we"re hoping the courts see it that way."

During her speech to the College Democrats, Rivers focused on energizing the party youth to get involved in off-year elections that do not always seem as "sexy" as a presidential election.

Rivers emphasized the differences she perceives between President Bush and former Vice President Al Gore, demonstrating that, contrary to some expectations, the two would have made very different presidents.

"Al Gore would never have stood by as California was raped by robber barons in the electric industry. Al Gore would never have walked away from world efforts on global climate change."

On a more humorous note, Rivers talked about needing an 11th commandment in the wake of the scandals involving fellow Democrats Bill Clinton and Rep. Gary Condit of California.

"Thou shalt not comfort thy rod with thy staff," she said.

Also on hand at the meeting was former Ann Arbor state Rep. Liz Brater, who herself faces a contested Democratic primary in her expected campaign for the state Senate.

Brater"s likely opponents are former Rep. Mary Schroer of Ann Arbor and current Rep. John Hansen of Dexter, whose district includes North Campus and northwestern Washtenaw County.