Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) faced a potential major blow in her already tight race this week when the Michigan Farm Bureau, AgriPac, endorsed her Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers.
The trade group's latest endorsement of Rogers differs from AgriPac's recent history of backing Democratic candidates in U.S. Senate races: The group hasn't supported a Republican candidate in a Senate race since 2006, and it backed outgoing Michigan Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow in her reelection campaigns in 2012 and 2018.
“I am honored and grateful to have the support of AgriPac and the Michigan farmers who feed our nation and power our state's economy,” Rogers said in a statement.
“Under this Administration, Michigan farmers have struggled with rising input costs and burdensome government regulations, and for the first time in American history, we import more food than we export. As Michigan's Senator, farmers know I will always have their back. I will fight to lower costs, cut unnecessary regulations and pass a Farm Bill so our farmers can thrive and future generations can succeed and leave a lasting legacy of feeding the world,” he wrote.
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Rogers received his long-awaited AgriPac approval. (Reuters/File)
The organization has a big influence in Michigan, as agriculture is one of the state's top three industries, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. According to the department, agriculture in the state contributes “more than $100 billion annually to the state's economy.” Additionally, agriculture employs nearly one million people, or 22% of Michigan's jobs.
Michigan Republican strategist Jason Law told Fox News Digital the endorsement is “very significant.”
“Slotkin serves on the House Agriculture Committee and her patron, Debbie Stabenow, is the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. I think they're both pretty upset about this decision,” he said.
Stabenow has endorsed Slotkin and urged the Farm Bureau to support the congressman as her successor.
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Stabenow has a history of receiving support from the group. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images/File)
“I'm very disappointed” with the endorsement, Stabenow told Fox News Digital.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Gary Peters of Michigan rejected the group's decision, telling reporters at the Christian Science Monitor breakfast on Tuesday, “The Farm Bureau has always supported Republicans. The one exception is Debbie Stabenow, because she's the chair of the Farm Bureau.” [the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry]”
“She's the only one,” he said. “Other than that, they're basically an extension of the Republican Party.”
Rogers disputed Peters' claims, noting that the group has supported 14 Democrats statewide this election alone, including representatives.
Slotkin's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital for comment by publication.
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Peters said the group is an extension of the Republican Party. (Reuters/Mike Seeger/File)
“The conclusion that they support us is [agriculture] Not just to our community, but to the entire Michigan business community.”
Regarding Peters' claim that he likened the group to the Republican Party, Rogers said in an interview with Fox News Digital, “It's just an insult to the second largest industry in the state. They have a very thoughtful process and you can tell by the fact that Peters hasn't been visiting many farms recently.”
Law said such comments could also hurt Peters if he runs for reelection in 2026.
The race between Slotkin and Rogers has grown increasingly fierce as the election nears. New polls show Republican candidate Rogers closing in on Slotkin but still leading. The latest Marist Poll shows Democrat Rogers winning by six points among registered voters, 51% to 45%.
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AgriPac, the Michigan farm bureau, has endorsed Rogers' bid for Senate. (Getty/File)
The stakes are high and the intensity of the race has surprised some: The Senate race is one of only two “close” races, according to a top political handicapper. Cook Political ReportIt will run parallel to the showdown in Ohio, which was considered “Democrat-leaning” before being changed over the summer.
Despite Slotkin's current lead in the polls, Rogers is confident the endorsement will make a difference.
“This makes people take notice,” he said.
He pointed out that there is a lot of advertising against him, but said, “One thing about farmers is that they know exactly where the bears relieve themselves in the woods. That's an old phrase my father used to use.”
“Farmers don't care about advertising. They don't care about misinformation,” the former representative said.
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Rogers said the farming community is instead concerned about the candidates who have met with them and the county commission to discuss agricultural solutions.
He also said AgriPac's endorsement was not only a crucial victory for farmers but also for the few independents who were yet to make up their minds.
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