Trump Backs Former Rep. Mike Rogers in 2024 Michigan Senate Race

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally on February 17, 2024 in Waterford, Michigan. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump announced his support on Monday for Republican Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers in the Republican 2024 Senate primary.

“Mike has served his Country during a career loaded up with accolades and wins, from the Army to Congress, and now, hopefully, the U.S. Senate,” President Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account on Monday afternoon.

Mr. Rogers served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army before going on to work for the FBI. He entered the Michigan State Senate in 1995 and then moved on to the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2015. He served as the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 to 2015, when he retired.

“Mike will work closely with me to enact our America First Policies. He will tirelessly fight to Secure the Border, Stop Inflation, Grow the Economy, Strengthen our Military/Veteran Support, and Protect and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” President Trump’s Monday social media post continued. “Mike Rogers will be a Great and Powerful Senator for Michigan, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement. HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN!”

The former president’s endorsement comes as Republicans seek to flip the seat currently held by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) who has decided to retire rather than seek another term in 2024.

Mr. Rogers faces several other Republicans in the Senate primary, including fellow former Republican Reps. Justin Amash and Peter Meijer.

A poll last month placed Mr. Rogers ahead of other identified competitors in the Republican primary, with 23 percent support among primary voters, compared to 7 percent support for his next closest opponent, Mr. Meijer. The same poll found 2 percent support for businessman Sandy Pensler. Six percent of respondents indicated they planned to support another candidate, while 62 percent said they were undecided. The poll conducted between Feb. 19 and 22 didn’t account for Mr. Amash, who officially joined the Republican Senate primary race on Feb. 29.

The National Senate Republican Committee had recruited Mr. Rogers in the effort to flip Ms. Stabenow’s seat. Since launching his campaign, Mr. Rogers has garnered endorsements from Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Shelley Moore-Capito (R-W.Va.)

President Trump’s endorsement could further solidify Mr. Rogers’s base of support in the Republican primary.

In February, the former president announced his decision to back retired U.S. Navy SEAL and businessman Tim Sheehy in the Montana Senate race. Days later, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) dropped out of the Montana Republican Senate primary, narrowing the decision for primary voters in that state.

The 2024 election cycle presents a strong opportunity for Republicans to win back control of the Senate. With 49 Senate seats, the Republican minority must net at least two wins to ensure their control of the upper House of Congress. A 50–50 split in the Senate would give Republicans effective control only if a Republican vice president also wins in 2024.

Democrats are currently defending 23 Senate seats, while Republicans are defending 11.

West Virginia poses the strongest prospect for Republicans out of all 34 Senate contests. Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) decision to retire after his current term leaves an open race in an otherwise reliably red state.

The Cook Political Report rates Senate seats currently held by Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents in Ohio, Montana, and Arizona as toss-up contests. The Cook Political Report rates the Senate races in Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as Democrat-leaning contests, while seats held by Democrats in Maryland, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington as contests likely or solidly favoring Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents.

Republicans are defending seats in Florida, Texas, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming. The Cook Political Report rates all these contests as likely or solidly favoring Republicans.

A January poll placed Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) as the frontrunner in her party’s primary contest to replace Ms. Stabenow. Ms. Slotkin held the support of 65 percent of her party in that January survey, compared to 7 percent for the next closest competitor, actor Hill Harper.

From NTD News