Who is Mike Rogers and what is Rogers running on in the 2026 Michigan Senate race?

Mike Rogers is the Republican candidate for Michigan U.S. Senate. Former FBI agent and US Representative for Michigan’s 8th district (2001-2015), ex-House Intelligence Committee chair; 2024 GOP Senate nominee (lost narrowly); Trump-endorsed; unopposed in 2026 primary. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Open seat (Democrat Gary Peters not seeking a third term).
• Rating: Toss-up (Cook, Apr 2026).
• Polling: El-Sayed 48, Rogers 46 (Emerson, Sept 12 to 14, 2026); Aug polls: Susquehanna El-Sayed 46 to 39, AARP 48 to 47, GBAO (D-sponsored) 50 to 44.

Why Rogers is behind

• Polls consistently show El-Sayed narrowly ahead (Emerson Sept: 48 to 46; four August polls all had him leading).
• National environment and Trump unpopularity in Michigan: Trump 40% approve / 55% disapprove in Emerson’s Sept poll.
• Republicans have not won a Michigan Senate race since 1994; Rogers already lost in 2024 to Elissa Slotkin by under 20,000 votes.
• Rogers‘ favorability is net negative (42/46) vs El-Sayed’s net positive (49/44); GOP attacks on El-Sayed as ’too far left’ have not yet moved general-election polls.
• Rogers’ path: strong with non-college voters (48 to 45) and $45M+ outside spending pledge from Senate Leadership Fund.

What Rogers is running on

• Economy / taxes. Advocates tax cuts for working families and a manufacturing revival; blames Democratic regulations for an ‘artificial increase’ in energy prices.
• Trump. Closely aligned with Trump and has vowed to stand with the president.
• Healthcare. Supports expanding the TrumpRx prescription drug program and penalties for non-transparent pricing; opposed the Affordable Care Act.
• Data centers. Supports a one-year moratorium on new data centers until questions about them are answered.
• Immigration. Defends Trump’s immigration strategy and deportation tactics.
• Israel. Recruiting Jewish Democrats uneasy with El-Sayed through a ‘Democrats for Mike Rogers’ coalition.
• Education / workforce. Wants shop classes back in schools as part of a manufacturing push.

The other candidates

• Abdul El-Sayed (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.