Republican businessman Sandy Pensler drops Senate bid, endorses former U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers • Michigan Advance

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While former President Donald Trump and his newly elected running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), addressed supporters in Grand Rapids on Saturday, Republican businessman Sandy Pensler and former U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) briefly stole the show.

Pensler and Rogers stood onstage next to the former president when Pensler made a surprise announcement that he would end his campaign for Michigan’s open Senate seat, giving Rogers his endorsement.

“My campaign has always been about making America a better place, and the best way to do that is to carry out President Trump’s policies,” Pensler said.

“To do that, we need control of the Senate. A divided, ongoing primary effort hurts our chances of that, and that’s not okay. So tonight I’m doing the right thing and ending my run for Senate,” Pensler said.

Former President Donald Trump (L) joins businessman Sandy Pensler (C) as he endorses U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R) for U.S. Senate during a rally in Grand Rapids, July 20, 2024 | Lucy Valeski

With Pensler ending his campaign, the Trump-backed Rogers will face physician Sherry O’Donnell and former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (I-Cascade Twp.) in the Aug. 6 primary. Pensler’s name will still be on the ballot, however, as the April 26 deadline for withdrawal has long since passed and mail-in voting opened on June 27.

The race for Michigan Senate is expected to be a close one, with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rating the seat a toss-up.

On the Democratic ballot, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) faces actor Hill Harper. The seat is open because U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) is retiring at the end of her term.

Following Pensler’s announcement, Michigan Democratic Party spokesman Sam Chan issued a statement criticizing Rogers, citing previous comments by Pensler made in a social media post.

“As Sandy Pensler said, Mike Rogers is an ‘unscrupulous career politician’ with a ‘selfish pattern of using political influence for personal gain.’ It’s clear that Rogers is in this race only for himself, and that’s why the people of Michigan cannot trust him in the Senate,” Chan said.

Deposit Reporter Lucy Valeski contributed to this story.

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