Republican businessman Sandy Pensler drops Senate bid, endorses former US Rep. Mike Rogers

Businessman Sandy Pensler (L) endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R) for U.S. Senate at the former President Donald Trump rally in Grand Rapids, July 20, 2024 | Lucy Valeski

As former President Donald Trump and his newly selected running mate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) played to their supporters in Grand Rapids on Saturday, Republican businessman Sandy Pensler and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) briefly stole the spotlight. 

Pensler and Rogers took the stage alongside the former president as Pensler made the surprise announcement that he would be ending his campaign for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, giving Rogers his endorsement. 

“My campaign was always about making America better. The best way to do that is to enact President Trump’s policies,” Pensler said. 

“To do that we need control of the Senate. A divisive continued primary effort hurts the chances of that, and that’s not okay. So tonight I’m doing the right thing and ceasing Senate candidacy,” Pensler said. 

With Pensler ending his campaign, the Trump-endorsed Rogers will face physician Sherry O’Donnell and former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (I-Cascade Twp.) in the Aug. 6 primary. However, Pensler’s name will still appear on the ballot, with the April 26 withdrawal deadline long past and absentee voting having opened on June 27.

The race for Michigan Senate is expected to be a tight race, with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rating the seat as a tossup. 

On the Democratic ballot, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) is set to face 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, Sam Chan, spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic party released a statement blasting Rogers, referencing  previous comments from Pensler made in a social media post. 

“As Sandy Pensler said, Mike Rogers is an ‘unprincipled career politician’ with a ‘selfish pattern of using political influence to personally profit.’ It’s clear that Rogers is only in this race for himself, and that’s why Michiganders can’t trust him in the Senate,” Chan said.

Advance reporter Lucy Valeski contributed to this story.

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