Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga is considering a run for Michigan’s open Senate seat and is expected to make a final decision this summer. Despite pressure from national Republicans to clear the field for former Rep. Mike Rogers, Huizenga is determined to ensure that the right candidate is chosen to win the seat.
In a recent statement, Huizenga expressed his belief that the Senate seat should have been won in the last election and questioned the effectiveness of running the same strategy again. He has been actively putting together a team, including fundraisers, in preparation for a potential bid for the Senate seat. Huizenga even met with former President Donald Trump during his visit to West Point to discuss his candidacy, although Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate in this race.
The Senate campaign arm of the Republican Party has been urging Huizenga to stay out of the race in order to avoid a contentious primary. They are focused on flipping the seat currently held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters. A recent poll shared by the National Republican Senatorial Committee political director showed Rogers outperforming Huizenga against potential Democratic rivals, reinforcing their preference for Rogers as the candidate best positioned to win the seat.
In the previous election, Democrat Elissa Slotkin emerged victorious in Michigan’s Senate race, defeating Rogers despite Trump’s win in the state. As the race for Michigan’s open Senate seat heats up, Huizenga’s potential entry into the primary could shake up the dynamics of the competition and add a new dimension to the Republican field. Stay tuned for updates as Huizenga weighs his decision and the race for the Senate seat continues to evolve.