Mike Rogers announces a second run for U.S. Senate

Updated 1:55 p.m. 

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers made it official Monday; the Republican is once again a candidate for U.S. Senate.

After narrowly losing the 2024 U.S. Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin, Rogers, 61, released a statement on his campaign website that he was ready to “be an ally for President Trump and champion for Michigan.”

“President Trump needs strong allies in the Senate to help him deliver on the mandate given by the American people,” said Rogers on the social media platform X. “That means bringing manufacturing jobs back to Michigan, protecting seniors’ social security, lowering the costs of gas, groceries & prescription drugs, and setting our kids up for success by improving the quality of their education. Michigan, let’s get to work.”

Rogers is the first announced Republican to seek the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township), who said in January he would not seek another term in 2026.

Other potential GOP candidates include U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Holland), state Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater), and former gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon.

On the Democratic side, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) announced earlier this month she was running for Peters’ seat, while U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) and Abdul El-Sayed, a former gubernatorial candidate who recently stepped down as Wayne County’s health director, are also anticipated to announce candidacies.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) have also been mentioned as possible Democratic candidates.

Rogers, who represented his mid-Michigan district in Congress from 2001 to 2015, rose to become chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee. Prior to that he served as a state senator and FBI agent.

After leaving Congress, Rogers moved to Florida and went into the private sector as a cyber security adviser and businessman. His return in 2023 to seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Debbie Stabenow brought with it questions whether or not his official residence was in the White Lake Township home he and wife Kristi had purchased earlier that year.

That house was eventually torn down and a new one built in its place. A check by Michigan Advance on Sunday indicated the home was completed and appeared to be occupied. Alyssa Brouillet, a campaign spokesperson, confirmed for the Advance that Rogers and his wife were living in White Lake Township home.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) also released a statement Monday, saying Rogers was the conservative leader Michigan needs in the U.S. Senate.

“As an Army veteran and former special agent, Mike understands the importance of putting service before self. We need him in the U.S. Senate to help achieve President Trump’s America First agenda and to bring manufacturing and good-paying jobs back to Michigan,” said Thune.

This story was updated with a comment from the Rogers campaign on his residency.