LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Peter Meijer, a former Republican congressman who was voted out of office after voting to impeach then-President Donald Trump, made an announcement on Monday that he will run for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.
Meijer is joining a crowded field of more than a dozen candidates competing for a seat that has been held by Democratic Sen. for more than two decades. Stabenow surprised many when she announced her retirement in January, opening up a fiercely contested race in the battleground state.
“After much consideration and prayer, my wife and I have decided to run for this seat in order to serve our state and nation. We have carefully assessed every aspect of the campaign and are confident that we have the strongest chance of winning back this seat for the Republicans and fighting for a conservative future,” Meijer stated in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“These are challenging and uncertain times, but we have overcome worse. Our country is great, and in order to see another great American century, we need leaders who are not afraid to be bold, who will put in the work, and cannot be swayed by outside influences.”
Meijer, an heir to a prominent Midwestern grocery store empire, has strong name recognition and fundraising capabilities, instantly making him a top contender in one of the most competitive Senate races in the country. He joins the Republican field, which includes former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig. On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin has been leading the pack, along with actor Hill Harper.
Jason Thielman, the executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, expressed concerns about Meijer’s viability in the primary election. He stated, “There is worry that if Meijer were to be nominated, the base would not be enthusiastic in the general election.”
Slotkin announced her candidacy in February, but the Republican field had remained relatively sparse until Rogers announced his campaign in September, followed by Craig in October. Slotkin had a significant financial advantage, with nearly $4 million more in campaign funds than any other Senate candidate as of September.
Meijer, a Grand Rapids native, is a former Army reserve officer who served in Iraq. He was seen as part of a new generation of Republican leaders when he was elected to the U.S. House in 2020 at the age of 32. However, his vote to impeach Trump early in his term drew the ire of Trump loyalists and made him an immediate target.
Meijer was among the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 following the deadly mob siege on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Despite having a significant fundraising advantage, Meijer lost his reelection bid in 2022 to a primary opponent backed by Trump.
There are still doubts about the viability of a moderate candidate who voted to impeach Trump in a Republican primary. Trump won Michigan in 2016, and his endorsed candidates have often won primaries but faced defeat in general elections.
If Meijer can make it through the GOP primary, he will pose a formidable challenge to the Democratic nominee. His well-known name and reputation as a moderate Republican could work in his favor in a state that has been leaning Democratic in recent years.
Although Democrats have won all but one of Michigan’s last 15 Senate races, the margin of victory for Democrats has been shrinking. Democratic Sen. Carl Levin won reelection in 2008 with a 29% margin, while Democratic Sen. Gary Peters barely won a second term in 2020, defeating his Republican opponent by less than 2%.
Defending the Michigan Senate seat is crucial for Democrats in their efforts to maintain control of the Senate, where they currently have a slim majority of 51-49. They also face challenges in defending seats in Republican-leaning states such as West Virginia, Montana, and Ohio.
