Government and Politics
May 10, 2024
LANSING — The gloves are off, and the primary is getting nasty. The “combative” and “combustible” Michigan GOP Senate Showdown is “heat[ing] up” as the candidates duke it out. Revolving Door Rogers finds himself in more hot water with new reports that he “personally benefited from his connections to China in opposition to U.S. national security interests.”
Here’s the latest on the “combative” and “combustible” GOP primary:
See for yourself:
Heartland Signal: Michigan Senate candidate spews anti-China rhetoric despite working to expand Chinese companies and personal wealth
Inside Elections: “Pensler, who has contributed $3 million of his own money to his campaign, is now airing ads attacking Rogers… Pensler’s money makes this primary more interesting, and Rogers has been a less-than-impressive fundraiser — he raised just $1 million in the first three months of the year.”
All Talk: Pensler: “I agree 100%. I think Mike Rogers should be disqualified from ever taking office.”
Off the Record Overtime: Zach Gorchow: “There’s this residency issue with Mike Rogers.
Is that gaining any traction among grassroots voters that you talked to? This is the idea that he, of course… moved to Florida around about 2015, just moved back in time to run for the U.S. Senate. Some Republicans, a lot of Democrats are, you know, tagging him as a carpetbagger. Is that gaining any traction or is that not much of an issue?” … Sherry O’Donnell: “That comes up repetitively as I go to these meetings, and the fact that he had a 728 square foot home here in Michigan only to get on the ballot. They are all seeing through that. He has a $1.7 million home in Florida. And he came up here after touring New Hampshire and Iowa to try to get the presidential nominee. And when it didn’t happen, he moved to Michigan, bought a 728 square foot home. So those people that are informed and realize it, yes, it is gaining traction. And that’s been the term that’s been, he’s been accused of… But it does send the message that he’s not for the people. When he stepped down out of Congress in 2015, if he was for Michigan, why did he move to Florida? I’m sorry. If you’re for Michigan, you’re going to stay with Michigan. You’re going to continue to help Michigan. So the nonsense that he’s for Michigan is just that. It’s nonsense. And to your question, it is gaining some momentum that he’s a carpetbagger, but he’s not for the people. And the people are tired of the political rhetoric. They’re tired of recycled politicians.”
Off the Record Overtime: Zach Gorchow: “Do you think Mike Rogers is in sync with today’s Republican Party?”… Sherry O’Donnell: “Oh. Absolutely not.” … Gorchow: “Why not?” … O’Donnell: “He is deep state. And even Rand Paul had put out a scathing rebuttal, I don’t know if you saw his rebuttal, but he put out a scathing rebuttal that Mike Rogers is a dangerous candidate, and it was the worst endorsement that President Trump could have done. And that’s the message that’s being sent. Dave Agema… former State Rep, he put out a rebuttal and he showed the houses, by the way, side by side and said he is not to be trusted. The people do not trust him.”
Off the Record: Sherry O’Donnell: “But when I was at the Trump rally that was in Saginaw, I can tell you that every time that Trump did a call-out to Mike [Rogers] and Mike got up and spoke for a few minutes. And the audience started chanting Sherry, Sherry three different times. And there was thousands of people there.”
Fox News: Republican Senate primary in crucial Michigan race heats up…
Detroit News: “Pensler’s campaign said the ad is running as part of a seven-figure statewide buy on broadcast, cable and digital platforms.”
WJR All Talk: Rogers: “And I tell you, if you [Pensler] have to stoop this low and be this dishonest, that ought to be a disqualifier for running for the United States Senate.”
Local Live: Pensler: “And by the way, that moral direction is the same problem that my opponent in the primary has. And we’re calling him out on it.”
Big League Politics: “Unfortunately for the people of Michigan, President Trump endorsed Rogers for U.S. Senate despite his history of… enriching himself and his wife in the Washington D.C. swamp… Trump would be wise to consider rescinding his endorsement of Rogers.”
Off the Record: Jordyn Hermani: “Yeah, I mean it just kind of underscores the fact that Republicans are playing catch up here. Obviously, they had to tangle with the Karamo Administration of the state Republican party that did not do many favors towards recruiting candidates, getting our ducks in a row for running for things like Senate or various state houses, U.S. House districts. So you know, it’s an uphill battle…”