Mike Rogers tries for a tricky ‘change’ election
As Michigan Democrats fracture over their Senate primary, the presumptive Republican nominee hopes to run against a state government he won’t be joining.
In Grand Haven, Michigan, Mike Rogers, the presumptive Republican nominee for the state's Senate race, avoided discussing national politics during a meeting outside a beachfront restaurant. He was unresponsive to inquiries about his stance on President Donald Trump's tariffs and the anti-weaponization fund. Rogers claimed that he was unaware of how constituents felt regarding the Iran war.
The Republican nominee emphasized that his campaign focused on local issues, aiming to capitalize on the Democrats' control of Michigan's state government and Senate seats. Rogers assured that he would change that in the 2026 midterms, as the race will be a "change election." Despite the Democrats being in charge and the state experiencing higher utility rates and reduced manufacturing employment, Rogers maintained that the Democrats bear the responsibility for these issues.
His campaign strategy involves portraying Democratic candidates as "democratic socialists" and warning of their presence in Michigan. In the congressional race, Rogers faces a competitive environment as most of Michigan's Democratic establishment and national leaders support incumbent Rep. Haley Stevens. However, the progressive candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, is trailing in the polls and is viewed as an easier target for the Republicans in the general election.
El-Sayed retaliated to Rogers' reported comments by criticizing him as "Temu Donald Trump" and deriding him as someone who is doing a "spray tan." The Democratic primary race remains contentious, with El-Sayed and Stevens vying for the nomination, and Rogers expressing confidence in his ability to defeat either candidate in November.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
