National Republicans have coalesced around Rogers as their best shot at nabbing the vacated battleground seat by retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). Still, that hasn鈥檛 deterred Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) from exploring a run.
Bergman and Walberg鈥檚 backing is Rogers鈥檚 first endorsement from Michigan鈥檚 congressional delegation for his 2026 race. Both men also endorsed Rogers in his 2024 election, but their renewed support is the latest example of GOP lawmakers siding with the establishment鈥檚 preferred candidate.
In a joint statement first provided to the Washington Examiner, Bergman and Walberg said Rogers has 鈥減roven himself by outperforming nearly every other battleground contender last cycle,鈥 and is uniquely positioned to 鈥減lace Michigan as the top pick-up opportunity for Republicans in 2026.鈥
鈥淢ike Rogers is the man for the moment, will flip this seat red for the first time in three decades, and has our complete and total endorsement,鈥 they said.
Huizenga鈥檚 office did not respond to a request for comment.
President Donald Trump endorsed Rogers in his 2024 campaign against Slotkin but has yet to comment on the midterm contest. He has not prevented Huizenga from floating a challenge, though.
Republicans want to expand their three-seat Senate majority to Michigan and Georgia, where Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is running for reelection. Nonpartisan election forecasters consider both states as toss-ups.
The Senate GOP鈥檚 campaign arm, known as the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and a super PAC linked to leadership called the Senate Leadership Fund, are squarely behind Rogers. He鈥檚 also backed by a number of sitting GOP senators, including Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY), and NRSC Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC).
鈥淚 doubt Scott and Thune would get ahead of the president in a seat that鈥檚 so vital to flipping,鈥 a source familiar with the Rogers campaign said in a recent interview. 鈥淭here鈥檚 going to be an effort to make sure [Huizenga] stays in the House, where he should stay.鈥
Rogers, a former congressman and chairman of the House鈥檚 Intelligence Committee, lost to Slotkin by just 0.3%, or less than 20,000 votes, to replace retired Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Despite the loss, national Republicans see Rogers as the most viable general election candidate based on polling, his past ties to Trump, and his fundraising ability.
There鈥檚 also concern about Republicans having to defend Huizenga鈥檚 House seat, should he mount a Senate bid. House Democrats have already begun targeting the seat to potentially flip, despite it being a relatively safe district.
BILL HUIZENGA READIES MICHIGAN SENATE BID THAT COULD UPEND THE GOP鈥橲 PRIMARY PLANS
In an interview with the Washington Examiner last month, Huizenga criticized Republicans who want the same candidate on the ballot but expect a different result.
鈥淒id Mike have an opportunity? Yes. He clearly came up short,鈥 Huizenga said. 鈥淗e had issues. I like Mike. I campaigned for Mike. I did rallies with Mike. But are we just going to run the same play and expect a different result? That doesn鈥檛 make a whole lot of sense to me.鈥