NEW: Longtime GOP Rep. Launches Bid For Crucial Senate Seat
A familiar face in Michigan politics is stepping back into the arena. Mike Rogers, the former congressman and one-time chair of the House Intelligence Committee, has officially declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Gary Peters in 2026.
“Show up and do the hard work. That’s what my folks taught us. Five boys growing up in a military family in Livingston County,” Rogers said in his launch video. “Our dad worked as a shop teacher at Redford Union High. He even built the house we grew up in. And our mom ran the Brighton Chamber of Commerce.”
That message — deeply personal and working-class — was at the core of a launch designed to reintroduce Rogers as both a fighter and a servant. He portrayed himself as someone who’s been on the factory floor, patrolled streets as a federal agent, and battled cyber threats in the private sector.
“I’m Mike Rogers. In all my life I’ve put that into practice,” he said. “The lessons I learned working on a factory floor, serving as an officer in the United States Army, and then as a federal agent protecting our communities, taking down drug dealers and gangsters. It taught me about grit and sacrifice.”
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Rogers is no stranger to the campaign trail. He narrowly lost his 2024 Senate bid to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by fewer than 20,000 votes — a razor-thin margin in one of the most hotly contested races in the country. Two years later, he’s back, and with Donald Trump back in the White House, Rogers is tying himself closely to the administration’s economic and national security agenda.
“I’ll stand with President Trump and we will deliver on the mandate given to him by the American people,” Rogers vowed. “For too long, we’ve been represented by two-faced politicians who say they’re moderates but vote as radicals when they get elected. That ends now.”
The 2026 Michigan Senate race is already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests of the cycle. On the Democratic side, State Senator Mallory McMorrow has declared her candidacy, and Rep. Haley Stevens is widely rumored to be considering a run. Republicans, meanwhile, are also eyeing other high-profile contenders, including 2022 gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon.
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But Rogers is wasting no time distinguishing himself. He pledged to put “America and Michigan first,” listing a platform that includes reducing the cost of groceries and prescription drugs, boosting skilled trades, and protecting Social Security.
“Rewarding hard work and investing in the skilled trades, cutting wasteful spending, lowering the cost of gas, groceries, and prescription drugs,” he said. “Alongside President Trump, I’ll fight to bring good, high-paying manufacturing jobs back to Michigan, and I guarantee we’ll protect Social Security for our seniors.”
His announcement video also featured a brief endorsement from his wife, Kristi Clemens Rogers.
“And as a loyal Michigan State fan, I don’t always agree with these Wolverines, but when my husband says he’s gonna do something, you can take that to the bank,” she said.
With Rogers now officially in the race and the Senate seat up for grabs, the battle for Michigan is on — and both parties are treating it as a must-win.