Republicans are making an early push to win Michigan’s vacant Senate seat, which is now at stake, even as Democrats brace for the loss of incumbency advantage with the departure of Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) announced seven-figure spending on new on-the-ground programs in battleground states on Friday, highlighting its efforts to retake states that have long been Democratic seats.
With months to go until Michigan’s official primary election, the Republican Senate campaign is planning to back the leading Republican candidate, former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is still facing off against wealthy businessman Sandy Pensler and former Rep. Justin Amash.
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Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers is a former member of the House of Representatives. (Sam Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Rogers, who has the backing of former President Trump, is expected to win the Aug. 6 primary.
The initial investment will also include ground-level infrastructure aimed at boosting Republican voter turnout and reaching out to those who have not yet solidified their plans for the November election, according to the NRSC.
“The Michigan Senate race is one of our biggest races in 2024, and this investment is a direct reflection of our confidence that Mike Rogers will win this seat in November,” NRSC spokeswoman Maggie Abboud said in a statement.
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Former President Trump endorsed Rogers for the Republican nomination. (AP Photo/Paul Sancia)
“Today’s unprecedented investment from the NRSC in support of Mike Rogers makes it abundantly clear that Michigan is not only winnable, but that it represents Republicans’ best chance of securing a Senate majority,” Rogers campaign spokesman Chris Gustafson said in a statement.
“In addition to our strong partnership with the Trump campaign and the Republican Party, this investment will enable our team to expand our reach using a proven, data-driven approach to amplify Mike’s message and help defeat the Biden-Slotkin agenda to flip Michigan to the Republican Party in November,” he added.
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Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) is expected to win the Democratic nomination. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Stabenow’s retirement gives Republicans an opportunity to face a candidate without the incumbency advantage, likely to be the Democratic front-runner, Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who is also up against actor Hill Harper in the primary.
Slotkin’s campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital for comment by publication time.
The election has been rated a “Democrat advantage” by the nonpartisan Political Handicap Institute. Cook Political ReportThere are also close Senate races in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Wisconsin.
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In Michigan, Trump is leading President Biden by just a few points. (Win McNamee/Michael M. Santiago)
Following the buyout announcement, Maeve Coyle, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement that “Republicans are embroiled in a dangerous and costly primary campaign that will severely damage their eventual nominee.”
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“Meanwhile, every day brings new and damaging revelations about the RNC’s chosen candidate, Mike Rogers — that he supports a nationwide abortion ban, that he’s lining his pockets with ties to Chinese companies, and that he abandoned Michigan for a million-dollar mansion in Florida as soon as he got the chance,” she said.
Michigan is seen as a big opportunity for Republicans to gain support both in Congress and in the presidential election. A Fox News poll in April showed Trump leading Biden by three points in Michigan, 49% to 46%. In April 2020, Biden led Trump 49% to 41%.
