Trump endorses Mike Rogers for Michigan's open US Senate seat

Former President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, a former House Intelligence Committee chairman running for the Republican nomination for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat.

Trump posted the endorsement on his Truth Social site, giving Rogers the endorsement for the job despite the fact that, in the past, Rogers had criticized Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, which Trump lost to President Joe Biden.

Rogers, who flirted with running for president himself last year before entering Michigan's race to replace U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who is stepping down, endorsed Trump for reelection in January, however. Rogers, of Brighton, represented Michigan's 8th Congressional District from 2001 to 2015 before stepping down to work outside government.

Since entering the Republican race, Rogers, who has lived in Florida before relocating to Michigan ahead of the campaign, has consolidated much of the institutional Republican support in the race and shown himself an able fundraiser. He also got a boost recently when former Detroit Police Chief James Craig suspended his campaign for the job; Craig later endorsed Rogers.

In his Truth Social post, which was reported by NBC News and other outlets, Trump called Rogers "highly respected," and noted his military service. "Mike will work closely with me to enact our America First Policies," Trump wrote. "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."

"Mike Rogers will be a Great and Powerful Senator for Michigan, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement. HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN," Trump wrote.

Rogers, who is also a former FBI agent, posted about the endorsement on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, saying, "Thank you, Mr. President! Excited to get to work with you to Get America and Michigan Back on Track!"

Rogers has criticized the Biden administration, saying it has failed to control the Southern border and allowed inflation, which has modulated in recent months, to run rampant.

The Michigan Democratic Party, meanwhile, issued a news release saying Trump's endorsement is creating "further chaos" in the GOP's Aug. 6 primary. The Democrats will select a Senate nominee that day as well.

“The chaotic Senate primary is getting even nastier as Trump pours gasoline on the fire. Mike Rogers abandoned Michigan a decade ago as he walked through the revolving door to get rich — and Michigan families deserve better,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes, referring to Rogers' work as a consultant after leaving Congress.

The Free Press typically does not report on individual endorsements unless they are noteworthy. But Trump's endorsement is considered significant, given his standing in the party and the virtual assurance of his becoming the Republicans' presidential nominee expected to face Biden again this fall.

And it may have the opposite effect than that predicted by the Democrats.

The endorsement could help to settle the field given the number of Republicans running for the GOP Senate nomination in Michigan. Besides Rogers, the field includes former U.S. Reps. Peter Meijer, of Grand Rapids Township, and Justin Amash, of Cascade Charter Township, and Grosse Pointe entrepreneur Sandy Pensler.

Pensler, especially, has been critical of Rogers' past criticism of Trump.

Others in the GOP field include Ottawa County Commissioner Rebekah Curran; state Board of Education member Nikki Snyder, of Dexter; mid-Michigan businessman Michael Hoover; St. Joseph physician Sherry O'Donnell; Wayne County lawyer Alexandria Taylor; Oscoda Area School Board Trustee Sharon Savage; St. Joseph physician Sherry O'Donnell; J.D. Wilson, a Houghton Lake businessman; Bensson Samuel, a doctor in Sault Ste. Marie; and Ionia businessman Glenn Wilson.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, of Lansing, is considered the likely Democratic frontrunner, though there has been little independent polling of the primary fields. She currently faces Detroit actor Hill Harper and Dearborn businessman Nasser Beydoun in the Democratic primary for the nomination.

Contact Todd Spangler: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump endorses Mike Rogers for Michigan's open US Senate seat