Mike Rogers — former Congressman, former State Senator, former FBI agent, Army veteran, and one of Livingston County’s favorite sons — is reportedly tying up some loose-end business issues before announcing a run for the GOP nomination to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabnow.
MIRS News is reporting that Rogers has “received strong encouragement, especially from those disaffected Republicans who are looking for someone to reunite a badly divided state party,” and that those who have closed their checkbooks because of the new state party leaders have reportedly told Rogers they will re-open those checkbooks to help him out.
Rogers will need those open checkbooks.
U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s campaign to replace fellow Democrat Stabenow announced last month that it raised $2.8 million in the second quarter of 2023, bringing its total haul to over $5.8 million since the beginning of the year — the most raised in the first two quarters by any U.S. Senate campaign in Michigan history.
Slotkin also leads Rogers 44% to 38% in a hypothetical head-to-head match-up for the 2024 open U.S. Senate seat according to a July 11-13 Mitchell Research and Communications survey with MIRS News.
Rogers has been making moves that suggest he’s been considering a run for U.S. Senate. He attended the Livingston County GOP picnic in May as the event’s “special guest.” In addition to that, Rogers has made appearances around Michigan, including giving a speech for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, and appearing at an event of the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce.
He’s been living in Florida, though, and will need to move back to Michigan.
Rogers and Slotkin — said to be friends — are cut from the same national security cloth. Slotkin’s served on the Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Veterans Affairs committees; Rogers was chair of the House Intelligence Committee.
If it is a Slotkin versus Rogers race, it will be a barn burner. Both are among the most talented politicians and greatest retail campaigners around. What is also interesting about the match-up is that Rogers and Slotkin — along with Stabenow, who they will be vying to replace — have represented Livingston County in Congress.
State Board of Education member Nikki Snyder and business executive Michael Hoover are currently the only two Republicans to report raising money for a U.S. Senate campaign. Attorney Alexandria Taylor has launched a campaign for the GOP nomination, as well.
In addition to Slotkin, other candidates running in the Democratic primary to replace Stabenow include actor Hill Harper; businessperson Nasser Beydoun; attorney Zack Burns; former state Rep. Leslie Love; and Pamela Pugh, who is currently serving as president of the Michigan State Board of Education.
He opposed the Gordie Howe International Bridge as State Senate leader. That is a good reason to vote against him.
His opposition to the Gordie Howe International Bridge when he led the State Senate will be used against him.
Well, well, well… Now (maybe) I’ve got a problem.
I think that I have basically been apolitical. It’s not that I don’t vote, I’ve voted in every election since I could. But I try to vote for the person who I think would benefit my family and my country. It really doesn’t matter to which party they belong.
Over the past number of years, I don’t remember voting for a Republican. I don’t dislike Republicans per se, but I feel that they generally have moved away from what is most important to me and my values.
I’ve told my significant other that I could not see me voting for any current Republican; … any current Republican …. except …. for one.
Yup.
Mr Mike Rogers.
I’ve been a huge fan of U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin. I think she has been working harder than any other politician. And on issues that matter to me the most. Each time I hear that she as been at an event or pushed an agenda, I wonder what the other politicians are doing. It makes me smile that someone is listening and working for us… not themselves, not their party, but for us.
I feel the same way for Mr Rogers. I don’t know what I will do if they both run for the same seat. I’d like to vote for both of them. I’ve got a problem.