(The Center Square) – Candidates for the U.S. House, Senate and Michigan governor’s office basked in President Donald Trumps endorsement at a rally Monday.
Trump was joined by U.S. House candidate Amir Hassan, U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, and gubernatorial candidate and current U.S. Rep. John James.
The event was part of Trump’s visit to General Motors Milford Proving Ground to push his policies on taxes, trade and the border.
“In 18 months, we turned this country completely around,” Trump told the crowd. “We have more factories being built now than in any time in history . . . Will you please remember that I did it?”
Hassan, Rogers, and James all spoke during the rally.
“Talk about the American dream. Born and raised in Flint, Michigan – the birthplace of General Motors,” Hassan said. “The contrast is clear. The time is now.”
Hassan is running in Michigan’s eighth congressional district against Democrat incumbent U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Mich., who is seeking a second term.
Rivet won the 2024 election with 51.3% of the vote against the Republican Paul Junge’s 44.6%. The 2016 election was the last to see a Republican win the seat.
In the U.S. Senate race, Republican support has rallied around Rogers in one of the nation’s most closely watched races. In 2024, the state’s U.S. Senate race was decided by less than half a percentage point, with U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin narrowly defeating Rogers.
It remains undecided who Rogers will face in the general election, as Democrats head to the polls in next week’s Michigan primary. Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed and establishment-backed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens are currently running neck and neck in polls.
Stevens addressed Trump’s visit.
“Donald Trump doesn’t know the first thing about what Michiganders need,” she said in a statement. “Instead of coming to hear from Michigan families about the ways he’s hurt our state, Trump is here for politics. Trump wants nothing more than someone like Mike Rogers who will let Trump do whatever he wants instead of standing up for Michigan. I won’t let that happen.”
Rogers has aligned himself closely with Trump and his policies, announcing he would support the SAVE America Act if elected.
“When I get back there . . . I will work with you to protect our families, to protect our freedoms, to protect our factories, to protect our finances,” Rogers said, “I promise you . . . if you haven’t gotten it done, we’re gonna pass the SAVE Act to save America.”
The Sentinel Action Fund, a conservative political action committee, has endorsed Rogers and has pledged $15 million to his campaign.
“Michigan has already suffered enough under Democratic representation for the last 25 years; it is time for a change,” said SAF President Jessica Anderson in a statement on Trump’s visit. “Mike Rogers is working for Michiganders and will win in November.”
James, who’s lost the race for U.S. Senate in Michigan twice, is backed by the establishment. He will likely face against Democrat Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for the governorship.
“We have a president who keeps his promises,” James said at the rally on Monday. “We’re going to make sure that we have an environment where we can bring that investment back to the state of Michigan to create jobs right here.”
Americans for Prosperity-Michigan, a conservative advocacy group, released a statement regarding the rally.
“President Trump’s endorsement of John James for governor reflects that same understanding of the vital role Michigan plays in this country’s economic future,” said AFP-MI State Director Tim Golding. “James is the candidate ready to build on it.”
