Mike Rogers kicks off second Michigan campaign for US Senate seat

The Detroit News, The Detroit News on Apr 14, 2025

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DETROIT — Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is launching his second campaign for the U.S. Senate on Monday, after narrowly losing the 2024 race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by about 19,000 votes.

Rogers on Monday formally entered the race for the Republican nomination. The 61-year-old Brighton native represented a mid-Michigan district in the U.S. House from 2001 to 2015 and was previously a state senator and FBI agent. He now resides in White Lake Township.

"Mike will be an ally for President Trump and champion for Michigan," a statement from the Rogers campaign said on Monday.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott of South Carolina immediately endorsed Rogers on Monday.

"Michigan is a battleground state, and with Mike as our candidate, I know we will add this seat to President Trump's Senate Majority in 2026," Scott said in a statement.

In 2024, Rogers came out of what had been political retirement and won the August primary with the backing of President Donald Trump.

In the fall general election, though, Rogers ended up getting about 123,000 fewer votes than Trump got in Michigan on Nov. 7. Trump won the state in the presidential election by about 80,000 votes over Democrat Kamala Harris, while Rogers lost to Slotkin by 19,000 votes, 48.3%-48.6%.

In 2026, the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Gary Peters for the past 12 years is up for grabs after Peters announced earlier this year that he will not seek a third term.

Other Republicans mulling campaigns for the U.S. Senate include U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Holland, state Sen. Jonathan Lindsey of Coldwater, Detroit pastor Lorenzo Sewell and former gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon of Norton Shores.

On the Democratic side, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak, has already launched a campaign for the seat. And many Democrats expect former candidate for governor Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor and current U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham to join the primary race. Former state House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, said Friday he’s also exploring a run for the U.S. Senate seat.

"Michiganders will once again see Rogers for who he is — a self-serving politician who is only ever looking out for himself, and they’ll reject him again just like they did in 2024," said Curtis Hertel Jr., chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, in a statement.