Former longtime U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan on Wednesday reportedly declared his candidacy for the Senate in the important Great Lakes battleground state of Michigan, showcasing his experience and stressing that he is “ready to serve again.”
I’m running for the United States Senate to get America back on track.
Join the fight. pic.twitter.com/3RrGooJBJx
— Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI) September 6, 2023
“Michigan’s way of life is worth defending. That’s why I served in the Army. That’s why I served in the FBI, taking down organized crime. That’s why I led the House Intelligence Committee in the hard years after 9/11,” Rogers states in the video.
He becomes the first well-known Republican to contend for Debbie Stabenow’s vacant Senate seat, which had been held by a longstanding Democratic senator.
Eight months ago, Stabenow declared she will not run for re-election to the Senate from Michigan for a fifth six-year term in 2024.
Before opting not to seek re-election in 2014, Rogers served as a representative representing sections of central Michigan for 14 years in Congress and chaired the House Intelligence Committee for his final four years.
As the GOP seeks to regain the majority in the Senate next year, Rogers’ announcement might make the contest in Michigan competitive.time in office.
Before deciding on a White House bid, Rogers toyed with the idea of seeking the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2024 and made many appearances in important early-voting states, including New Hampshire and Iowa.
In a field that also includes actor and businessman Hill Harper, state board of education president Pamela Pugh, and former state representative Leslie Love, Rep. Elissa Slotkin is the front-runner for the Democratic Senate nomination.
Depending on whether party is in control of the White House following next year’s presidential election, Republicans only need to net gain one or two seats in 2024 to regain the majority.
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