LANSING — More than three years after he quit the Republican Party, former Michigan U.S. Rep. Justin Amash is considering a GOP bid for the U.S. Senate being vacated by retiring Democrat Debbie Stabenow
Amash served as the Grand Rapids area representative in the U.S. House for ten years until 2020, at which point he decided not to run for reelection after quitting the GOP and saying that then-President Donald Trump had committed crimes that may result in his impeachment.
Amash hinted to a potential Libertarian presidential candidacy in 2020, but he declared on Thursday that he is establishing an exploratory committee in order to consider a potential Republican bid.
Served in the U.S. House for ten years until 2020, at which point he decided not to run for reelection after quitting the GOP and said that then-President Donald Trump had committed crimes that may lead to his impeachment.
Amash hinted to a potential Libertarian presidential candidacy in 2020, but he declared on Thursday that he is establishing an exploratory committee in order to consider a potential Republican bid.
He posted on the social media platform X, which was formerly known as Twitter, saying, “I’ve been humbled in recent weeks by the many people who have urged me to run for Senate in Michigan and to do so by joining the Republican primary.”
“They see what I see: candidates for the office who lack motivation, are not sincere, and are ill-equipped to address the main obstacle to economic growth and liberty, which is an out-of-control and oppressive government that aims to suppress individuality and consolidate power. Our nation and the people of Michigan deserve better.”
Amash did not provide a timeframe for his decision on whether or not to start a formal campaign. If he enters the race, he will be among a large field of candidates seeking to beat Republican incumbent Spencer Abraham and replace Stabenow, who has held the seat since 2001.
Nine Republicans and four Democrats were filed to compete in the August primary as of January. Until the spring filing deadline, candidates can still enter or withdraw from the race. But these people are in so far:
Democrats
Nasser Beydoun: A restaurant entrepreneur and past chair of the American Arab Chamber of Congress, Beydoun is from Dearborn. Beyoncé identifies as a supporter of civil rights and a moderate politician. According to Beydoun’s campaign, he is the son of a Lebanese immigrant who established himself as a UAW member in Michigan.
Zack Burns: An Ann Arbor-based lawyer, Burns declared his intention to concentrate on health care, education, training, and affordable housing when he entered the race in April. According to his campaign, he is a graduate of the University of Oxford and the University of California, Irvine.
Hill Harper is an actor most recognized for his work on CSI: NY and The Good Doctor. Harper owns a coffee shop, practices law, and is a single parent. Harper, the Iowa-born son of two doctors, relocated to Detroit in 2016. He holds a Harvard University degree. Harper, a cancer survivor, was chosen by then-President Barack Obama to serve on a cancer panel in 2012.
Elissa Slotkin: Currently residing in Lansing, Slotkin is the U.S. representative representing Michigan’s 7th District. She joined Congress in 2019. She had previously been an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency and an official in the Department of Defense. Slotkin, who was reared in Oakland County but was born in New York, holds degrees from Cornell and Columbia.
Republicans
James Craig: A front-runner for the GOP nomination for governor last year, Craig was found to be one of five candidates who had submitted forged signatures on nominating papers by the state. Craig is a former head of police for Detroit. In 2021, Craig announced his retirement from the Detroit Police Department. He is a Republican law-and-order candidate.
Michael Hoover is a businessman who was formerly employed by Dow Chemical. He is a first-time candidate for political office and resides in Laingsburg, Shiawassee County. According to his campaign, he is focused on strong families, responsible spending, freedom for education, middle-class prosperity, and government accountability.
Peter Meijer: A former member of Congress from Grand Rapids, the Republican from Grand Rapids lost his attempt for reelection in 2022 after voting to remove former President Donald Trump from office for inciting rioting in the Capitol. Meijer is a veteran who worked in Iraq doing intelligence operations. He was educated at West Point before moving to Columbia University and earning his degree there. He is related to the Meijer family, who owns the retail business located in Michigan.
Sherry O’Donnell is a medical professional, author, and preacher from Stevensville, Berrien County. Her website lists her support for “medical freedom” and opposition to a “government takeover of healthcare,” among other things. She has never held public office, although she entered the 2018 congressional race and lost to Republican incumbent U.S. Representative Tim Walberg in the 5th District primary.
inessman announced his campaign in December, declaring that America “is burning” so it’s time to “take responsibility and fight like hell.” Pensler, who founded a private investment firm that has operated manufacturing plants attempted to challenge Stabenow in 2018 but lost in the GOP primary after spending $5 million of his own money.
Mike Rogers: Through 2014, the Republican from Livingston County served as the 8th Congressional District representative for Michigan in the U.S. House. Rogers stated when he announced his candidacy that he had “put politics behind me,” but that “something is broken” had motivated him to run for the U.S. Senate. He served as the chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was a former FBI special agent who just returned to Michigan from Florida.
Nikki Snyder: A Dexter-born registered nurse, Snyder has been a member of the Michigan State Board of Education since 2016. In the general election, she received the second-highest number of votes. “Freedom-loving patriot” Snyder claims to be, and she supports a Parent’s Bill of Rights so that parents may have a significant part in their children’s education.
Alexandria Taylor is an attorney who formerly served as a Democrat from Romulus. She helped on an unsuccessful Republican lawsuit last year that attempted to declare all Detroit mail-in ballots void. According to her campaign, she is focused on “family, faith, and freedom” and holds degrees from Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, and Detroit Mercy colleges.
Wilson, J.D.: Wilson, a businessman from the Houghton Lake area of Roscommon County, is a political novice who identifies as a “constitutional conservative.” Wilson claims on his campaign website that if elected to the U.S. Senate, he will battle inflation—which he refers to as a “war on middle class families”—as well as reduce taxes and put the federal government “on a diet.”
Who’s not running anymore?
Leslie Love: The former Detroit state legislator said in May 2023 that she would be suspending her candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Her announcement was made on January 18. She released a statement saying, “The fight and the light for a better future continues, even though this chapter may be ending.”
Pamela Pugh: The Democratic president of the State Board of Education had declared her intention to run for the U.S. Senate, but on November 27 she changed her mind and said she will instead compete for the U.S. House, assuming Rep. Dan Kildee’s seat, as he is not standing for reelection.