LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, facing a tough primary fight in a reconfigured district, secured a key endorsement Saturday from his fellow Cuyahoga County Democrats.

An overwhelming majority of party insiders -- 70 of the 88 executive committee members who turned out from the new district -- chose the longtime Cleveland congressman over fellow Rep. Marcy Kaptur and political newcomer Graham Veysey.

The 18 votes against Kucinich appeared to come from Lakewood, a large inner-ring suburb key to his base. Kucinich keeps a district office there, and Saturday's meeting was held in the heart of the city, at the Masonic Temple.

Afterward, Kucinich accentuated the positive.

"This is a tremendous show of support," the former Cleveland mayor said in a brief interview. "I'm hoping that it's reflective of where Cuyahoga County is going."

In the lower-voltage 11th District race, Democrats backed incumbent Rep. Marcia Fudge over challenger Gerald Henley, a former Cleveland school board president.

Slow population growth cost Ohio two of its 18 seats during last year's realignment of congressional districts. The Republican-drawn map consolidated the turf of Kucinich and Kaptur, who represents the Toledo area, into one district along the Lake Erie shoreline.

Previous Plain Dealer coverage

Kucinich wants Constitution to require that taxpayers fund all federal campaigns (

Key Ohio redistricting negotiator says Kucinich threatened to run against Marcia Fudge (

Kucinich and Kaptur share many views, but are a contrast in style and records (

New congressional district map looks like the route to Kucinich's exit: Brent Larkin (

Kucinich, Kaptur keep focus on issue during meeting on Davis-Besse (

Ally helps Kucinich raise money for congressional fight against Kaptur (

New 'barbell' district tilts in Kaptur's favor but keeps Kucinich's base intact (

With a heavy Lucas County population, the redrawn 9th District tilts in Kaptur's favor.

Kucinich and his supporters stressed the need for a Cuyahoga-based representative.

In a speech prior to the endorsement vote, Kucinich rattled off a list of what he sees as his greatest hits. He cited his staunch defense of Cleveland's electric company, then known as Muny Light, during his controversial run as the city's mayor. He noted his crusades to save steel mill jobs. And he took pride in his firm opposition to the Iraq war.

"This is our seat!" Kucinich said from the stage. "Let's keep it! Let's make it happen!"

His supporters recognize the battle ahead.

"He's always been there for us," Cleveland City Council President Martin J. Sweeney said when rising to call for Kucinich's endorsement. "We need to be there for him now."

Kaptur, who knew she had no shot at stealing Kucinich's home field endorsement, treated the event with deference. At least a dozen executive committee members accepted her invitation to an informal gathering beforehand at a nearby coffee shop, the point of which was not to lobby support but to keep things friendly should she win the primary.

Those who attended that gathering included Parma City Council President Sean Brennan, a Kucinich loyalist. Brennan said afterward that he was there to show there would be no hard feelings. "If you win," Brennan said he told Kaptur, "I'm behind you 100 percent."

In her speech at the endorsement meeting, Kaptur stressed her knowledge of the middle sections of the new district, portions of which she already represents. Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer and Council President Joel Arredondo are backing Kaptur and are expected to appear with other city officials at a campaign event Sunday, Kaptur spokesman Steve Fought said. The city is not part of Kaptur's current district.

Veysey, who lives in Cleveland and owns a video production company, touted his youth.

"I'm asking you to go on a limb," the 29-year-old said. "I'm asking you to support someone who has never run for elected office before. I think that is an advantage."

Party Chairman Stuart Garson tallied the endorsement votes without ballots, asking Kucinich supporters to stand and all others to sit. Most, if not all, of those who sat were among Lakewood's 22-member delegation. Because there were no ballots, it was unclear how many preferred Kaptur or Veysey.

Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers, one of the committee members who did not back Kucinich, said afterward he is considering an endorsement of Kaptur.

"We heard today about what he did 13 years ago, 10 years ago, five years ago," Summers said after a brief but tense chat with Kucinich. "I'm looking forward, not backward."