THE NAME GAME
- Downtown Newsmagazine
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
The U.S. Senate race in Michigan to replace departing Senator Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) is heating up – or at least the competition to acquire the bulk of – and most significant – endorsements. On the Republican side, while Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-Battle Creek, Kalamazoo) teases a campaign entry, former Congressman Mike Rogers (R-White Lake), who came this close to beating Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) in 2024 has already sewn up pretty much all the endorsements from Republican U.S. Senators, like Republican Majority Leader John Thune and the RSCC. All that’s missing for Rogers is a tip of the MAGA hat from President Donald Trump. “Huizenga’s a super guy, but needs to stay away. Rogers has all the endorsements already,” said one Republican politico, who thinks Huizenga’s just angling to “get something.” The GOP’s goal is to avoid a primary that would deplete finances in order to focus on their general election opponent. On the Democratic side, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield, majority of Oakland County) recently announced that former Democratic Governor James Blanchard had come out for her, along with Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, fellow Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, plus Elect Democratic Women, the committee dedicated to sending more Democratic women to Congress. Fellow Democrat state Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak, Birmingham, Troy) has been endorsed by 10 of her state legislative colleagues: state Senators Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh; Assistant Majority Whip Mary Cavanagh; Veronica Klinefelt; Sue Shink; and John Cherry; and House Democratic Whip Jennifer Conlin; Reps. Joey Andrews; Sharon MacDonell; and Carol Glanville. One of the two other Democratic contenders, former state House Majority Leader Joe Tate (D-Detroit) – who announced at a “virtual” briefing – has not signaled any endorsements, if he has some. Former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed has picked up the backing of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), but no word on any other endorsements. Michigan U.S. Senators Peters and Elissa Slotkin have both announced they will not endorse for the primary.
