Below are brief biographies of the major party candidates, which we took from their official websites, our previous reports, campaign websites and campaign social media pages. Candidates without this information were contacted and in some cases did not respond. If the candidate has a campaign website, we have included a link to it under “Read more here.” This guide does not include third-party candidates or candidates in non-competitive races. A full list of all candidates, including third-party candidates, can be found here.
Elissa Slotkin, D
Slotkin, of Holly in northern Oakland County, has an impressive resume, to say the least: After serving as an intelligence officer under two presidents and three tours in Iraq, she served as acting undersecretary of defense under former President Barack Obama. Then she ran for a previously solidly Republican Michigan district outside Detroit in 2018, winning three close elections in districts that had voted for Republican former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.
Slotkin, a formidable fundraiser and the only Jewish member of Michigan’s congressional delegation, is also a tireless campaigner and leaves little to chance. She continues to present herself as a more moderate, independent Democrat. She usually votes with her party but also breaks with it a little more often than most. She is known for her appearances on television and is a sought-after voice on national security and foreign policy issues. She, too, has called for a ceasefire in Gaza but has also defended Israel’s right to crush Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. She has fought for abortion rights and access to health care, though she does not support eliminating private insurers but wants a Medicare-like public option to compete with them.
Read more here.
Mike Rogers, R
Rogers is a former congressman from Michigan who served from 2001 to 2015. During his time in office, he established himself as a serious conservative and a reliable centrist Republican voter, albeit one willing to work with Democrats, particularly as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Rogers, a former FBI agent, is considered a pragmatic rather than ideological Republican and has become a sought-after commentator on national security and intelligence issues.
After leaving Congress, he worked for CNN and in cybersecurity. He left Michigan but returned to Brighton when the Senate seat became vacant. In the past, he has been critical of former President Donald Trump, particularly his attempts to overturn the 2020 election won by President Joe Biden. But Rogers now supports Trump because he believes he was a far better president than Biden and both enjoy each other’s support. Rogers claims he is “ready to serve” and can build coalitions from day one in office. He also says he is running to curb inflation, secure the southern border and fend off the economic threat posed by an ambitious Chinese government.
Read more here.
More Detroit Free Press coverage of this race:
This year’s voter guide was compiled by reporters Clara Hendrickson, John Wisely, Arpan Lobo, Paul Egan, Todd Spangler, Niraj Warikoo, Christina Hall, Bill Laytner, Gina Kaufmann, Ahmad Garnett, Jenna Prestininzi, Bella Bakeman, Carmella Guaglianone and Diamy Wang, with editorial assistance from Emily Lawler, Pat Byrne, Sally Tato and Jewel Gopwani.
Have questions about this guide or the Free Press’ election coverage? Contact State Government and Politics Editor Emily Lawler: [email protected].
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