(WWJ) — As longtime Democratic Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow is set to retire at the end of her term, the race for her seat this fall is expected to be one of the more hotly contested races in the country.
But the primary election races to determine who will face off against each other in November were not quite as close, with Democrat Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers projected to win by wide margins.
The Associated Press called both the Democrat and Republican races around 9 p.m. Tuesday, with Slotkin holding about 75% of the vote over actor and author Hill Harper of Detroit. Rogers, meanwhile, had about 70% of the vote over former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash.
Slotkin is wrapping up serving her third term in Congress after being elected to Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in 2018.
“Like Elissa, I’m not too focused on attacks, but I will say that when you come for Elissa Slotkin, she will take you to the floor, and she will take you to task. No one bullies her, no one runs over her. She’s very strong,” Fellow Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens told WWJ’s Darrylin Horne at a campaign party in Downtown Detroit
Rogers served as the Rep. for Michigan’s 8th District from 2001-2015 until he retired. He was chair of the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 until the end of his term.
The longtime former congressman told supporters at a watch party in Lake Orion Tuesday night the only way to win in November is for what has been a fractured Republican party to unify.
"This is the time we get in the same boat, we row in the same direction; There is so much at risk in this country. We need to stand united for November," Rogers said.
Speaking at the Rogers watch party, Republican Tom Barrett told WWJ's Jon Hewett Rogers has what it takes to win.
"I can't think of a better person to go up against Elissa Slotkin and represent our interests and our values and win this race over the next 91 days that we have left," Barrett said.
The winner of November’s race will fill the seat held by Stabenow of Gladwin, who was first elected in 2000.
In the primary race to replace Slotkin in the state's 7th District, representing the Lansing area and parts of Mid-Michigan, Democrat Curtis Hertel and Republican Tom Barrett were both unopposed.
In other Metro Detroit congressional primaries,
Stay tuned for continuing team coverage of the primary elections on WWJ Newsradio 950. >>> LISTEN LIVE!
