Gongwer
Sept. 27, 2024
Nick Smith
The Detroit Regional Chamber PAC announced Friday it would not be endorsing a candidate for U.S. Senate after its board was unable to come to a consensus.
This lack of an endorsement from a key southeast Michigan stakeholder came shortly after former Republican Governor Rick Snyder announced his backing of former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers for the open seat.
In a statement explaining its decision, Detroit Regional Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Sandy K. Baruah said both candidates were interviewed in recent weeks, but chamber leadership was unable to reach its two-thirds consensus for making an endorsement between Rogers and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly).
Baruah put a positive spin on both candidates in his statement.
“Unlike some campaigns where voters are confronted with only unsatisfactory options, the race between Elissa Slotkin and Mike Rogers represents something rare – two exceptionally strong candidates who would serve Michigan well,” Baruah said. “While their individual campaigns will likely deny it, these two public servants share core similarities that matter much to the chamber and the business community at large. … Both have clearly demonstrated that they are in the race for the right reasons, not because they need the job.”
He outlined their national security backgrounds, with Baruah adding both have been friendly to business and have, at times, worked across the aisle.
“Slotkin or Rogers? Either way, Michigan wins,” Baruah concluded.
Friday’s lack of an endorsement was not the first time Slotkin missed out on a Detroit Regional Chamber endorsement. The group endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) over Slotkin in 2018 when she later defeated Bishop (See Gongwer Michigan Report, October 17, 2018). Slotkin as an incumbent received the group’s endorsement in 2020 and 2022.
The Detroit Regional Chamber endorsed U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) when he first ran for U.S. Senate in 2014 and again in 2020. Stabenow was endorsed by the Chamber in 2018, 2012 and 2006.
Snyder, in a statement announcing his backing of Rogers, said he believes the former congressmember will have Michigan residents’ backs in Washington if elected.
“I’ve always believed that Michigan’s best days still lie ahead, but we need strong leadership to guide our state into the future, and Mike Rogers is our proven candidate,” Snyder said, “Mike has dedicated his life to serving Michigan and with him as our senator, I know he’ll work hard for our agriculture community, he’ll grow our economy, lower costs for families, and put Michigan workers first.”
Rogers in a statement thanked Snyder for his support and praised his work as governor.
“Governor Snyder helped lead Michigan’s renaissance, placing the state on a path of fiscal responsibility and prosperity with hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, and I’m proud to have earned his endorsement,” Rogers said. “My campaign has always been about helping Michigan families who are living paycheck to paycheck, lowering costs, and protecting Michigan jobs, and as Michigan’s senator I’ll get the jobs done.”