EXCLUSIVE – Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who’s into account as former President Donald Trump’s working mate, is weighing in on the GOP Senate major in a key battleground state.
Scott on Wednesday endorsed former Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan, a former Home Intelligence Committee chair who’s the front-runner within the August Republican major within the battle to succeed longtime Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat who will not be looking for re-election this 12 months.
The seat is one among a handful that Republicans are aiming to flip from blue to purple within the autumn elections as they push to regain the Senate majority they misplaced within the 2020 cycle.
“Mike Rogers’ dedication to service has all the time been about placing the American folks first. When Mike and I served collectively, he was a pacesetter who delivered outcomes and fought to increase alternatives for working households and people pursuing their American Dream,” Scott mentioned in an announcement. “I am proud to endorse him to be Michigan’s subsequent U.S. Senator as a result of I do know Mike will carry his servant management to the U.S. Senate.”
WHAT THE REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CHAIR TOLD FOX NEWS ABOUT WINNING BACK THE MAJORITY
Scott’s backing of Rogers, which was shared first with Fox Information, is his first formal endorsement in a Senate race this election cycle, though he is helped different Republican candidates increase cash.
Rogers, an Military veteran and a former FBI particular agent earlier than serving in Congress, enjoys the backing of the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which is the marketing campaign arm of the Senate GOP. And in March, Rogers landed the endorsement of Trump, the social gathering’s presumptive presidential nominee.
6 KEY SENATE SEATS REPUBLICANS AIM TO FLIP IN NOVEMBER
“Senator Scott has been an amazing champion for conservative values within the U.S. Senate and I’m honored to obtain his endorsement,” Rogers mentioned in an announcement. “Collectively within the Senate we are going to work with President Trump to assist Michigan households, decrease the price of fuel and groceries, and safe the southern border.”
Rogers has additionally been endorsed in latest months by seven different Republican senators, in addition to Mike Pompeo, who served as Secretary of State and CIA director within the Trump administration. He is additionally been endorsed by former Detroit police chief James Craig, who backed Rogers after ending his personal Republican Senate nomination bid earlier this 12 months.
As they work to win a Senate election in Michigan for the primary time in three a long time, Republicans have been hoping to keep away from a doubtlessly expensive and flamable major.
However Rogers does not have the sphere to himself.
The first race additionally contains rich businessman and investor Sandy Pensler, who’s making his second run for workplace and has been spending huge bucks to run advertisements concentrating on Rogers. Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy endorsed Pensler.
Among the many others working for the GOP nomination are former Rep. Justin Amash, who as an impartial Home member joined Democrats in voting to question then-President Trump in his first impeachment trial in 2019.
The state major in Michigan can be held on August 6.
Scott, the one Black Republican within the Senate, ran unsuccessfully for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination however stays a extremely popular and influential determine within the social gathering.
The senator, who was recognized for his ferocious fundraising as he cruised to a Senate re-election in 2022, has robust ties with many main figures within the GOP donor class. The cash raised two years in the past served as a down fee for his 2024 nationwide run.
In addition to elevating cash for himself, Scott has additionally been very lively in serving to fellow Republicans working for workplace.
Within the 2022 cycle, the senator raised almost $1 million for different candidates and donated greater than $1 million to down poll races. And two outdoors teams aligned with Scott spent $13 million on prime Senate and Home races, whereas additionally transferring $5 million to the highest tremendous PAC supporting Senate Republicans.
An excellent PAC allied with Scott introduced earlier this month it will spend $14 million to assist Republicans develop assist amongst Black voters.