Former Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers announced he will run for U.S. Senate in 2026. Michigan likely will have one of the most closely contested races in the midterm elections. Rogers, who served as the U.S. representative for Michigan’s 8th congressional district from 2001 to 2015, is the first major Republican candidate to enter the race. “President Trump needs strong allies in the Senate to help him deliver on the mandate given by the American people. 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,” Rogers said. “Michigan, let’s get to work,” he added. WATCH: President Trump needs strong allies in the Senate to help him deliver on the mandate given by the American people. That means bringing manufacturing jobs back to Michigan, protecting seniors’ social security, lowering the costs of gas, groceries & prescription drugs, and… pic.twitter.com/MBNn5gcZ4t — Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI) April 14, 2025 Per NBC News: The Michigan race is expected to be key to the battle for the Senate, with Republicans looking to grow their majority. With Sen. Gary Peters retiring, Democrats will be defending an open Senate seat. Rogers is running again after he lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin last year. Slotkin defeated Rogers by less than half a percentage point even as Donald Trump won the state by 1 point. Rogers invoked Trump in a video announcing his run, saying, “As your next senator, I won’t just reprsent Michigan. I’ll fight for it. I’ll stand with President Trump and we will deliver on the mandate given to him by the American people.” It is not clear yet whether he will have Trump’s endorsement. Rogers earned Trump’s endorsement in a crowded primary last year around six months after he launched his campaign. But he did get an early boost from Senate GOP leaders, with Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., both endorsing Rogers Monday morning. “Michigan is a battleground state, and with Mike as our candidate, I know we will add this seat to President Trump’s Senate Majority in 2026,” Scott said in a statement. “I am officially running for United States Senate to be the ally that President Trump needs and the champion that Michiganders deserve! We have a long road ahead toward 2026, but getting an early start will make a world of difference,” Rogers added. WATCH: ICYMI: I am officially running for United States Senate to be the ally that President Trump needs and the champion that Michiganders deserve! We have a long road ahead toward 2026, but getting an early start will make a world of difference. Join us by visiting… pic.twitter.com/8CZVXD3uiu — Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI) April 14, 2025 From the Detroit Free Press: Rogers, who had been living in Florida and had lived in Howell when he formerly represented the state in Congress, moved back to Michigan ahead of an achingly close election he lost last year for an open U.S. Senate seat won by Democratic former U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Holly. Slotkin won the seat that had previously been held by former U.S. Rep. Debbie Stabenow by about three-tenths of 1 percentage point, or 19,006 votes out of nearly 5.6 million cast. In a prepared release announcing his candidacy on Monday morning at 7 a.m., Rogers’ campaign said, “‘Show up and do the hard work.’ That is the lesson that Mike’s parents taught him and his four brothers growing up in Livingston County – and it is the same lesson that he will live by as Michigan’s next U.S. senator. For too long, Michigan has been sold short by politicians who campaign as ‘moderates’ but govern as radical leftists. That ends today. With Democrats set to pour millions of dollars into Michigan, we know that the road to 2026 starts now. Mike will be an ally for President (Donald) Trump and champion for Michigan.” The campaign also released a 2-minute-long video from Rogers. “I’ll stand with President Trump and we will deliver on the mandate given to him by the American people,” he said in the video.