Meijer Exits GOP Senate Race in Michigan, Citing Lack of Pathway to Victory

Peter Meijer, a former congressman from Michigan who comes from the prominent supermarket chain family, announced his decision to pull out of the Republican primary race for US Senate on Friday. The decision followed Meijer’s realization that he lacked “a strong pathway to victory” and that the current landscape had transformed substantially since initiating campaign efforts six months earlier. According to his post made on Facebook, continuing with the bid could result in a potentially contentious primary battle diverting focus from their shared objective of securing conservative victories during November’s elections.
Meijer aimed at succeeding Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who declared her retirement after two decades in office last year. However, Meijer suffered defeat to a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump in the 2022 midterm polls, with Meijer voting for impeachment following the January 6, 2021 riot at Capitol Hill. Republican strategists had expressed doubts about his chances of winning the primary given that Trump won all Michigan’s delegates during its state convention due to strong influence on the GOP in Michigan.
The candidate who received endorsement from former President Donald Trump for this position is Mike Rogers, a seven-term House member and previous Intelligence Committee chairperson. Additionally, Justin Amash will also appear as an option on Republican ballots since he was the only Republican congressman to support Trump’s initial impeachment attempt. Meijer’s announcement came just five days before President Donald Trump planned his rally in Freeland, Michigan, with Rogers scheduled for attendance at this event too.
On the Democratic ticket, Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a three-term congresswoman from Michigan is considered to be their strongest candidate by the DNC. Other candidates running include actor and author Hill Harper as well as businessman Nasser Beydoun.