CLICK TO HEAR COMMENTS FROM SENATE CANDIDATE MIKE ROGERS
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers brought his campaign to the Upper Peninsula on Thursday for a whirlwind tour that included stops in Marquette, Norway, and Gladstone. Rogers, a former Congressman and former FBI agent, is locked in a tight battle with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed with less than two weeks before Election Day.
“I think the UP has been forgotten by a quarter century of Democrats being in the US Senate,” Rogers said. “I think they just don’t pay attention. We have roots here. My wife is from here (Rapid River) and it’s just an important place and a part of our DNA. And I think there’s real possibility here for growth that we just haven’t tapped yet. I’ve talked with a lot of businesses here who are ready for someone who is at least paying attention.”
Rogers’ visit came one week after El-Sayed also visited the UP, making stops in Escanaba, Marquette, Iron Mountain, and Sault Ste. Marie. And while the Democratic nominee picked the largest venues possible, drawing more than two thousand people across his four rallies, Rogers chose smaller, more intimate venues.
Rogers spoke at the Honorable Distillery in Marquette, Loadmaster in Norway, and at Saunders Point Brewery in Gladstone, with 100 people or less at all three. But he met with all who wanted to, and posed for pictures in front of his campaign bus. Magic markers were also handed out for people to physically sign the bus.
“Get more copper out of the ground, and get more trees through good, sound forest management,” Rogers said. “That’s the way we have to do this. I’ll go back (to Washington) and do a review of all of those regulatory schemes that bump into these (U.P.) companies.”
Rogers says he agrees with President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy, but does not support many of the other tariffs imposed in this trade war, especially automobiles. He also talked about plans to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, and touted a plan to improve the reading levels for fourth graders.
Rogers campaigned Thursday alongside Upper Peninsula elected Republican lawmakers, and his wife, who introduced him at the events.
“Michigan is in a little bit of trouble,” Rogers said. “People are hurting. Just in the eight years that Democrats have been in control of our state with two Democrats in the US. Senate and governor’s office, we’ve lost 27,000 manufacturing jobs. We have the highest utility rates in the Midwest. Highest auto insurance rates in the United States. We went from top tier in education to 45th. Two-thirds of Michigan fourth graders can’t read at grade level.”
The latest statewide polls have Rogers and El-Sayed in a virtual tie, with El-Sayed’s lead well within the margin of error. Rogers says he’s not paying attention to that.
“The only poll that matters is on Election Day.”
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