Trump clears Senate field for GOP in key battleground state as Dems fight messy primary

President Donald Trump endorsed former Republican Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers’ 2026 Senate run Thursday evening, effectively clearing the field for the two-time Senate candidate in one of the most closely watched races of the midterms.

Rogers, who was facing a potential primary challenge as recently as Tuesday, is on track to cruise to the general election with unified Republican support after receiving Trump’s support. Republican Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga, who was mulling his own run, passed on the race Wednesday, allowing Rogers to obtain the president’s endorsement — and likely glide to the Republican nomination.

“From the U.S. Army to Congress, Mike has served our Nation with distinction, and will bring that same Fighting Spirit to the U.S. Senate,” Trump wrote in a post on the social media platform Truth Social on Thursday.

Senate Republicans view the open race in Michigan as one of their best flip opportunities to grow their 53-seat majority during the midterms. Democratic Michigan Sen. Gary Peters chose to not seek reelection in January following Trump winning the state by roughly 80,000 votes last November.

Rogers came within less than 20,000 votes of being elected to the Senate last November after narrowly losing to Democratic Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin. Trump also endorsed Rogers’ candidacy during the 2024 cycle.

Huizenga’s decision to bail on the race is a sigh of relief for national Republican groups who can throw their weight behind Rogers while averting a contentious primary fight that could have weakened the ultimate nominee. Trump reportedly told Huizenga he would not have the president’s support if he entered the Republican primary.

The president’s endorsement could also boost the Rogers campaign’s ability to make inroads with voters who turned out for Trump last November but not down-ballot candidates. Chris LaCivita, who co-chaired Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, is helping advise Rogers’ Senate run.

Rogers also has the support of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) — Senate Republicans’ campaign arm — Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Republican Michigan Reps. Jack Bergman and Tim Walberg.

“President Trump is all in for Mike. I’m all in for Mike. Republicans are all in for Mike. Michigan is all in for Mike,” NRSC chairman Tim Scott said in a statement. “Mike Rogers is the leader who will grow President Trump’s Senate Majority in 2026.”

As Republicans consolidate behind Rogers, Democrats are holding a messy four-way primary contest that has no clear frontrunner, according to recent polling.

Democratic Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed are neck-and-neck — at 24% support and 22% support respectively — with Democratic Michigan state legislator Mallory McMorrow trailing at 11%, according to a July NRSC poll. Former Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate netted just 1% of the vote. The survey was first reported by the DCNF. El-Sayed notably has the support of Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“I’m grateful to have President Trump’s complete and total endorsement,” Rogers said in a statement Thursday evening. “For 32 years, Michigan’s left-wing leaders have failed families and failed our state. It’s time for a voice in the Senate that represents real Michigan values.”

The president also endorsed Huizenga’s reelection Thursday. The Michigan Republican has not yet announced if he plans to run for a ninth term.

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