Former Representative Mike Rogers, the Trump-endorsed Michigan Republican U.S. Senate candidate, recently shared his astute observations regarding his Democrat primary challengers, asserting they have learned little from past electoral outcomes and are increasingly veering towards the extreme left.
Rogers, who nearly clinched victory in Michigan’s intensely competitive 2024 U.S. Senate race against Senator Elissa Slotkin, stands poised to become the Republican nominee for this cycle, with the Michigan GOP forgoing a primary contest. This contrasts sharply with the crowded field of Democrat hopefuls in the Wolverine State, who appear to be engaged in a progressive ideological contest.
According to Rogers, these Democrat candidates are actively embracing policies that align with the furthest left of the political spectrum, including controversial stances on issues such as the participation of biological males in girls’ sports and the adoption of radical economic models akin to those proposed by figures like Zohran Mamdani in New York City. This pronounced leftward drift, Rogers argues, is creating a significant disconnect with the state’s working-class Democrats.
He emphasized that many working Democrats in Michigan do not align with such liberal ideologies, forecasting that this extreme positioning by the primary candidates will inevitably lead to a substantial disenfranchisement among these crucial voters. This strategic miscalculation by the Democrats, in Rogers’ view, offers a unique opportunity for Republicans in the upcoming election.
Despite the prevailing narrative of typical midterm election dynamics, where the party holding the White House often loses congressional seats, Rogers cautioned against applying this generalization to Michigan’s unique political landscape. He highlighted that both the U.S. Senate seat and the gubernatorial position, currently held by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, are open, creating a distinct electoral environment.
Rogers expressed a palpable sense of excitement and readiness for change among the electorate. He envisions a scenario where a Republican governor, working in concert with a Republican U.S. Senator, can effectively advocate for Michigan’s interests in Washington, D.C., and facilitate the state’s resurgence as a manufacturing leader.
The former Congressman, who once chaired the Select Committee on Intelligence, is actively building robust campaign infrastructure, boasting co-chairs in all 83 Michigan counties—a level of organization he noted was absent even in the run-up to the previous year’s election. This ground-level momentum underscores the genuine enthusiasm for his campaign and the broader Republican conservative strategy in the state.
Rogers’ near-victory in 2024, where he secured 48.30 percent of the vote against Slotkin’s 48.64 percent, underscores the competitive nature of Michigan politics. With the current U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Senator Gary Peters, the 2026 election presents a prime pick-up opportunity for Republicans, potentially shifting the balance of power in Washington and significantly impacting the future of Michigan politics.
