GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga will not run for Senate in Michigan next year, he said Wednesday, after spending months irking congressional leadership by considering a bid in the open battleground seat.
“After careful consideration with Natalie and my family, as well as in consultation with President [Donald] Trump, I have decided against a bid for U.S. Senate in Michigan,” Huizenga said in a post on X. “I look forward to announcing my future plans later this year.”
The eight-term member of Congress’ decision opens the door for former Rep. Mike Rogers to glide to a second straight Republican nomination, after he lost an open-seat race last year.
And national Republicans, who had long hoped to avoid a messy and expensive primary fight, are taking a victory lap
“There’s no doubt that Mike Rogers is poised to be Michigan’s next U.S. senator, and Senate Leadership Fund will support his campaign every step of the way,” said Alex Latcham, executive director of the top Senate GOP super PAC. “Leader [John] Thune and Chairman [Tim] Scott supported Mike Rogers from the beginning and now is the time to unite and let Democrats fight over their First Place Loser.”
Rogers, who lost last year’s Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin, launched his second bid for the Senate in April. Huizenga, meanwhile, pulled together a campaign team and met with Trump to discuss a possible run in May.
Huizenga did not explicitly commit Wednesday to running for another term in the House, but his southwestern Michigan seat will likely be competitive in November either way. Trump is intent on keeping the GOP’s razor-thin majority in the House. The president has pushed for major redistricting efforts in Republican states, while urging ambitious House Republicans to refrain from running for higher office.
Michigan Democrats face a far busier Senate primary, with state Sen. Mallory McMorrow facing off against Rep. Haley Stevens and former Wayne County health official Abdul El-Sayed.
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