Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan suffered a setback in the race for Michigan’s Senate seat this week when the Michigan Farm Bureau and its AgriPac endorsed her Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, potentially upending an already close race.

In the latest list of endorsements, the industry group announced its support for Rogers, breaking from AgriPac’s recent history of supporting the Democratic candidate for that Senate seat. The group has not endorsed a Republican candidate for the Senate seat since 2006 and supported outgoing Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan, in her 2012 and 2018 re-election campaigns.

“I am honored and grateful to have earned the support of AgriPac and the farmers across Michigan who feed our country and drive Michigan’s economy,” Rogers said in a statement.

“Michigan farmers have struggled with rising input costs and burdensome government regulations under the current administration, and now, for the first time in American history, we import more food than we export. As Michigan Senator, our farmers know I’ve always got their backs, and I will fight to lower costs, cut unnecessary regulations, and pass the farm bill so farmers can thrive and leave a lasting legacy for the next generation to succeed and feed the world,” he wrote.

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Rogers received the coveted AgriPac recommendation. (Reuters/File)

The group has a noticeable influence in Michigan because agriculture is one of the state’s top three industries, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Agriculture in the state contributes “over $100 billion annually to the state’s economy,” according to the department. In addition, it employs nearly a million people, or 22% of Michigan’s jobs.

Jason Roe, a Republican strategist from Michigan, told Fox News Digital that the support was “pretty damn significant.”

“Slotkin is a member of the House Agriculture Committee and her sponsor, Debbie Stabenow, is chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. I imagine they are both pretty upset about this decision,” he said.

Stabenow supported Slotkin and had encouraged the Agriculture Bureau to support the congresswoman as her successor.

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Stabenow was known for receiving the group’s support. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images/File)

Stabenow told Fox News Digital in response to the support: “It was very disappointing.”

Michigan Democrat Gary Peters, chairman of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, rejected the group’s decision, telling reporters at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast on Tuesday: “The Farm Bureau always supports – it always supports Republicans. The only exception was Debbie Stabenow because she is chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.”

“She’s the only one,” he said. “Other than that, they’re basically an extension of the Republican Party.”

Rogers refuted Peters’ claim, pointing out that the organization has supported 14 Democrats across the state this legislative session alone, including in the House of Representatives.

Slotkin’s campaign team did not provide Fox News Digital with a comment prior to publication.

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Peters said the group is an extended branch of the Republican Party. (Reuters/Mike Segar/File)

Rogers said, “I think their decision to support us sends a very clear message, not only to the (agricultural) community, but to the rest of the business community in Michigan.”

Regarding Peters’ claim that he was comparing the group to the Republican Party, Rogers said in an interview with Fox News Digital: “You just insulted the second largest industry in the state. They have a very elaborate process and that tells me he hasn’t been visiting very many farms lately.”

According to Roe, such a remark could even harm Peters if he runs for re-election in 2026.

The race between Slotkin and Rogers has become increasingly tight as the election approaches. New polls have shown the Republican within striking distance of Slotkin, although she still holds a lead. According to the latest Marist poll, the Democrat beat Rogers by six percentage points among registered voters, 51% to 45%.

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AgriPac of the Michigan Farm Bureau endorsed Rogers for Senate. (Getty/File)

The stakes in the race have risen, and some have been surprised by the toughness of the race. It is one of only two Senate races, along with the Ohio matchup, where the odds are wide open, according to leading political pundit Cook Political Report. The election was previously considered “leaning Democratic,” but over the summer that changed.

Although Slotkin is currently leading in the polls, Rogers is convinced that this support will make a difference.

“It makes people pay attention,” he said.

He pointed to the large number of negative advertisements that were being placed against him, but added: “I have to tell you one thing about farmers: they know exactly where in the forest the bear does its business. That’s an old expression that my father always used to say.”

The former MP said farmers “don’t care about the advertising. They don’t care about the misinformation.”

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Rogers said the farming community was more interested in the candidates who had met with them and their county councillors to discuss agricultural solutions.

He also said that support for AgriPac was a decisive victory not only for farmers but also for independent voters, who are among the few undecided.

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