Former Michigan Republican Rep. Mike Rogers is emphasizing a surge in support for his bid to capture a critical Michigan Senate seat in the 2026 midterms, bolstered by an early endorsement from President Donald Trump. In a new interview, Rogers stated that Trump’s support provides Republicans with their strongest opportunity to secure the seat left open by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, a seat Democrats have controlled since 1979.

As a two-time Senate candidate, Rogers believes Trump’s endorsement, combined with support from national Republican organizations, will help him build a robust voter coalition before the general election, while Democrats face a contentious primary.

“It [the president’s support] opens up the lane for us to build the ‘mother of all ground games,’” Rogers told reporters, discussing his campaign’s extensive voter outreach efforts. “This [endorsement] allows us to focus on that, which is targeted at beating Democrats next year, and not targeted at fighting amongst ourselves, which is huge.”

Having narrowly lost a Senate race in 2024 by 20,000 votes, the former House Intelligence Committee chair argues that unified Republican backing and a fractured Democratic primary will give him a significant advantage in one of the most competitive races of the 2026 midterms. Republicans see Michigan’s open Senate seat as a prime opportunity to expand their 53-seat Senate majority, and Rogers contends his campaign’s early momentum positions him well for victory.

The decision by Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga to forgo a Senate run, coupled with Trump’s endorsement, has cleared the path for Rogers to focus on the general election. Unlike his 2024 campaign, where Trump’s endorsement came late in a crowded primary, Rogers now benefits from a six-month head start for 2026.

Trump’s campaign team, including co-chair Chris LaCivita, who also advises Rogers, is prioritizing strong candidates to maintain Republican control of Congress in the midterms. “He [Trump] knows if he loses the House or the Senate, you know, the thought of every day being conflict — it just isn’t productive,” Rogers shared.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who endorsed Rogers immediately upon his campaign launch, told reporters on July 23 that recruiting “quality candidates” is key to flipping competitive seats in 2026. Rogers also has the support of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is expected to invest heavily in his campaign.

Rogers expressed enthusiasm for campaigning alongside Trump in Michigan and promoting the tax relief and manufacturing provisions in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he believes will boost Michigan’s economy. “He [Trump] wants people that share his belief that America can be a manufacturing powerhouse again, and those jobs ought to be here in America,” Rogers said, pledging to support Trump’s legislative priorities if elected.

Several factors unique to this race strengthen Rogers’ position, unlike his previous Senate bid. Michigan’s open gubernatorial race, with term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unable to run in 2026, historically favors a Republican flip, as the state’s last three governors were succeeded by the opposing party. Rogers noted that the simultaneous open Senate and gubernatorial races will likely energize Republican voters eager to control Michigan’s top offices.

Rogers also pointed to the chaotic Democratic primary, which lacks a clear frontrunner based on recent polls. The primary features Rep. Haley Stevens, backed by the Democratic establishment, state legislator Mallory McMorrow, who leads in fundraising, and Abdul El-Sayed, supported by Bernie Sanders. “It is messy, and getting messier by the day. And I love it,” Rogers said, recalling his own challenging primary in 2024. “They’re gonna have to fight their way through all of that, and that means they’re going further and further to the left.”

“And we get to actually be for Michigan working families,” Rogers added. “That’s the difference — and we get an extra six or eight months to do that.”

With 15 months to mobilize voters, Rogers is capitalizing on his head start, unlike his 2024 campaign, which he launched in September 2023. His current campaign has already exceeded its timeline for establishing a ground game, with over 100 county co-chairs and plans to expand volunteer efforts, including outreach to disaffected Democrats who may reject the eventual Democratic nominee’s platform.

“There’s a little more enthusiasm on a warm Saturday in late July on a Saturday morning — you don’t expect a lot,” Rogers said after a campaign event in Sparta, Michigan, near Grand Rapids. “We probably had 75 people show up,” he added. “It was great.”

Trump’s 2024 Michigan Victory Bolsters GOP Hopes for Senate Flip

President Donald Trump’s victory in Michigan during the 2024 presidential election has significantly strengthened Republican prospects for flipping the state’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2026, particularly for candidate Mike Rogers. Trump’s ability to carry Michigan, a key battleground state, demonstrates a shift in voter sentiment that could favor Republican candidates in down-ballot races, according to recent analyses.

Trump’s 2024 win in Michigan, where he secured 50.8% of the vote compared to Vice President Kamala Harris’ 47.9%, marked a return to Republican success in a state that had leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections. This victory, coupled with strong Republican performance in Michigan’s congressional races, suggests a favorable environment for Rogers, who is leveraging Trump’s coattails and his endorsement to build momentum.

Political analysts note that Trump’s success in Michigan was driven by strong support in rural and working-class areas, particularly in the western and northern parts of the state. These regions, which turned out heavily for Trump in 2024, overlap with key voter bases Rogers is targeting in his Senate campaign. The alignment of Trump’s voter coalition with Rogers’ campaign strategy enhances the GOP’s chances of flipping the Senate seat.

The open Senate seat, vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters, represents a rare opportunity in a state where Democrats have held the seat for over four decades. Historical trends in Michigan’s gubernatorial races, which often flip to the opposing party, further bolster Republican optimism, as the 2026 gubernatorial race coincides with the Senate contest, potentially driving higher GOP turnout.

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