Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said he’s considering another run for Senate in 2026 after incumbent Sen. Gary Peters (D) made a surprise announcement that he wouldn’t seek another term.
Rogers, who narrowly lost the Michigan Senate race in November to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) by less than 20,000 votes, said in a post on X that he has spent the past two years traveling across Michigan and learned that the state deserves “strong and honest representation that will have President Trump’s back.”
“Since receiving more votes than any other Republican candidate that has ever run for Senate in Michigan, the tremendous outpouring of support and encouragement I’ve received since November proves that our mission to send a real fighter to the US Senate has just begun,” he said.
Rogers said he and his wife are “strongly considering joining the fight once again” and concluded that “Good news is coming soon.”
Rogers represented Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in the House from 2001 to 2015, serving as chair of the House Intelligence Committee at the end of his tenure. In the 2024 race, Rogers was recruited by Senate Republicans’ campaign arm to run to succeed retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) and received endorsements from numerous high-profile Republicans, including President Trump.
If he does run, Rogers would likely face a competitive primary, with several other notable Michigan Republicans considering a run. Possible candidates include 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon and Reps. John James and Bill Huizenga, among others.
Rogers already seemed to gain support from one prominent Republican. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) posted on X that Rogers “has an excellent opportunity to become the next Senator from Michigan which will make it virtually impossible for the Democrats to take back the Senate in 2026.”
The Democratic field for the seat also seems likely to be open, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Reps. Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten and state Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow being just some of the candidates expressing interest.
