(WWJ) - Former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer has announced he is throwing his hat in the ring to run for U.S. Senate, joining a growing list of candidates vying for the open seat.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) announced earlier this year that she would not seek reelection in 2024, leaving the seat open for both Democrat and Republican candidates.
In an interview with WWJ, Meijer said he was running because he wants to help deal with the issues facing the country.
"I'm running for U.S. Senate here because I cannot stand by and sit on the sidelines when we have so many large problems to tackle," Meijer said.
Meijer said a lot of politicians are more focused on day to day issues instead of looking at the long-term. He said "they're more wrapped up about what will happen in the next week than what will happen in the next 50 years."
Meijer was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. He was one of only a handful of Republicans to impeach former President Donald Trump following Jan. 6. When asked about the former president, Meijer said "I'm a guy who's going to call balls and strikes. I'm going to say it like I see it and I'll say it, Jan. 6 was wrong. That was also one day. We have a lot greater issues that are facing us." He said he was vocal of his support of Trump in the past as well.
Meijer said he is "firmly committed" to backing whoever gets the Republican nomination for president.
When talking about the division being seen in the Republican Party, Meijer said the party needs to come back together, and that it's also important to work with Democrats to help the country. He said a disagreement over an issue shouldn't stop people from working together.
"I've been more than happy to work together with my colleagues across the aisle where we have agreements on policy and on issues, whether that is ending wars overseas, taking back war powers and emergency powers to Congress that presidents of both parties have stripped away," Meijer said.
Other Republicans running for the seat include former Detroit Police Chief James Craig and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers. Meijer said he is different from the other candidates because "I think I bring a depth of experience but also a longer-term perspective to both offer those solutions forward but when it comes to the party, recognize we all are going to have to row in the same direction here."
Meijer said he tried to find the "ultimate solutions" while he served as a U.S. Representative, and plans to continue that if he is elected to the Senate.
