Capitol News

One year after the 2024 Senate election, the Michigan Democratic Party is highlighting reasons why Mike Rogers lost to Elissa Slotkin and asserting that he remains unelectable in future races. The party marked the anniversary by outlining what it says are key factors behind Rogers’ defeat and why they believe he will face similar challenges in 2026.

“Mike Rogers didn’t lose because of bad luck or poor timing. He lost because Michigan voters took a hard look at his record and rejected what they saw,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Joey Hannum. “A Florida carpetbagger who got rich by selling out Michiganders. A Big Pharma ‘champion’ for boosting access to opioids. A politician who spent his career trying to gut health care and Social Security. That’s who Mike Rogers is, and that toxic baggage will continue to haunt his second failed campaign.”

The party criticized Rogers for leaving Michigan for Florida after increasing his wealth, then returning only to run for Senate. Questions were raised about his residency status, including concerns over whether he may have violated a voter registration law that he had previously supported.

Rogers was also accused of leveraging his political connections after leaving Congress, earning significant income from speeches and roles with corporations in industries he once regulated.

Another point raised was Rogers’ record on pharmaceuticals. The party said he advocated for expanding opioid prescriptions while receiving large sums from drug companies now involved in opioid settlements.

The statement also noted that Rogers profited from business dealings with companies linked to China and avoided addressing questions about these connections.

On trade policy, the Michigan Democratic Party pointed out Rogers' support for NAFTA, which they say contributed to substantial manufacturing job losses in Michigan since 2000. They added that his current stance supports trade conflicts that have led to higher costs and further job losses among manufacturers.

Regarding health care, the party cited multiple votes by Rogers against the Affordable Care Act and efforts to weaken Medicaid during his time in Congress.

They also highlighted his positions on Social Security and Medicare, saying he supported cuts and privatization measures that would have negatively impacted retirees during economic downturns like the 2008 recession.

Rogers' voting record on abortion was criticized as well; according to the party, he backed national abortion bans, legislation restricting IVF access, fetal personhood amendments, and celebrated the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Finally, internal Republican criticism was mentioned as a factor in his electoral performance. Several GOP figures publicly questioned Rogers’ suitability as a candidate following his underperformance compared to Donald Trump by more than 100,000 votes in 2024.