MACKINAC ISLAND, Michigan — A New Contender Emerges for the Senate
Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga is gearing up to potentially throw his hat into the ring for Michigan’s open Senate seat, with a decision expected by this summer. This move could place him at odds with national Republican strategists who are keen on consolidating support behind former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is also aiming for a second shot at the Senate.
Huizenga expressed his desire for a winning candidate, questioning the wisdom of repeating past strategies without reevaluation. “I want to make sure we win. I want to make sure we’ve got the right candidate to do that,” he stated on Thursday. “I personally think it should have been won last election. It didn’t. And the question is: Are we going to run the same play and expect a different result?” A poignant reminder of Einstein’s definition of insanity, perhaps?
In preparation for a possible candidacy, Huizenga has begun assembling a campaign team, including fundraising experts. Recently, he met with Donald Trump during the former president’s visit to West Point, where they discussed Huizenga’s potential Senate run. Trump, who had previously backed Rogers in a crowded Senate primary, has yet to announce an endorsement in this current race.
Meanwhile, Republicans’ Senate campaign arm is pressuring Huizenga to sit this one out, hoping to avoid a chaotic primary as they set their sights on flipping the seat currently held by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
Brendan Jaspers, the political director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, took to social media on Wednesday to emphasize this point. He shared a poll indicating that Rogers would outperform Huizenga against possible Democratic contenders, asserting, “If Republicans want to flip Michigan’s Senate seat red in 2026, the numbers point to one candidate” — a clear nod to Rogers.
It’s worth noting that last year, Democrat Elissa Slotkin managed to defeat Rogers in Michigan’s open Senate race, despite Trump securing a victory in the state. This juxtaposition underscores the complexities of Michigan’s political landscape, where party loyalty can clash with individual candidate appeal.
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