Former Michigan GOP co-chair Bernadette Smith has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, signaling a likely Senate run. This move positions her as a potential challenger to Trump-backed former Rep. Mike Rogers in the 2026 race for Michigan’s open Senate seat.
Smith, who resigned from her co-chair position with the state party last week, has set up a potential longshot Republican challenge to Rogers, who has been endorsed not only by President Donald Trump but also by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which is the campaign arm of the Senate GOP.
The winner of next year’s general election will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
The open seat in Michigan, along with an open Democrat-held seat in swing state New Hampshire, are two top targets the NRSC is aiming to flip in the 2026 midterms, as the party aims to not only defend but expand its current 53-47 majority in the Senate.
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Battleground Georgia, where Republicans view Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff as vulnerable as he seeks re-election next year, is another top GOP target.
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ROGERS WON
Rogers won the 2024 GOP Senate nomination in Michigan but narrowly lost to Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democrats’ nominee, in last November’s election in the race to succeed longtime Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who retired.
After the president backed him in July, Rogers told Fox News Digital that