Mike Rogers wins GOP primary in Michigan Senate race

Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) will be the GOP nominee in the race for the seat being vacated by retiring Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D), setting up a faceoff for what Republicans hope is a pickup opportunity in November, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Rogers defeated former Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and physician Sherry O’Donnell after consolidating most establishment support behind his candidacy in the primary. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, recruited Rogers to run for the seat to try to succeed Stabenow, who was first elected to the seat in 2000 and announced last year that she would not seek another term. 

Rogers has the backing of former President Trump, top Republican Sens. Joni Ernst (Iowa) and Tim Scott (S.C.), among others, and Michigan Republican officials like Reps. Jack Bergman, John Moolenaar, Tim Walberg and Lisa McClain. 

The field for the Republican primary was considerably larger at first and included former Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), former Detroit Police Chief James Craig and businessman Sandy Pensler. But all three dropped out of the race as Rogers emerged as the clear favorite for the nomination. Craig and Pensler both endorsed Rogers. 

Rogers previously represented Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in the House from 2001 to 2015 and served as chair of the House Intelligence Committee for four years. While serving as chair of the committee, Rogers oversaw an investigation into the 2012 attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. 

Amash, who initially left the Republican Party and became the first Libertarian member of Congress at least in part because of his opposition to Trump, represented Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District for 10 years from 2011 to 2021, serving alongside Rogers for four years. 

Rogers will likely face Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) in the November general election. 

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the race as a “toss-up.” Slotkin leads Rogers in the polling average from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill by about 6 points.