Democrat Elissa Slotkin wins Michigan Senate seat in hotly-contested race
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Rep. Elissa Slotkin squeaked by with a victory against former Rep. Mike Rogers in the swing state Senate race.
The margin of victory was much too-close-for-comfort for the Democratic representative in an increasingly blue-leaning state as she was 4.2 percent behind with 66 percent of the vote tabulated around 1:30 a.m. on Election Night.
When the race was called on Wednesday afternoon, Slotkin edged out Rogers by less than one percent.
She hung onto the win despite Donald Trump tearing down the 'blue wall' with sweep of battleground states Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Rogers had hoped to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, helping Republicans grow their new majority in the U.S. Senate.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin is promoting to the Senate after defeating former Rep. Mike Rogers in the 2024 election on Tuesday. Pictured: Slotkin speaks to supporters at her watch part in the early hours of Wednesday morning at MotorCity Casino in Detroit, Michigan
Former Rep. Mike Rogers speaks at his election night watch party in Novi, Michigan on November 5
Polling in the days ahead of the election showed Rogers closing the gap with his Democratic rival.
An average from FiveThirtyEight had the two at a 4 percentage point gap over the weekend.
Slotkin, 48, served for two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives for Michigan's 8th congressional district from 2019 through 2023 and in her third term served for the state's 7th congressional district.
Rogers, 61, previously served as a U.S. congressman for Michigan's 8th district from 2001 through 2015. He was the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 until the end of his tenure in the lower chamber.
After retiring from Congress, Rogers was hired by CNN as a national security commentator.
He tried to stage a comeback in the 2024 elections, but fell short.
In January, Slotkin will officially be promoted when she is sworn in as the new Senator for Michigan to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow who announced January 5, 2023 that she would not run for another term.
Slotkin's victory helps make sure the Democratic party doesn't give up seats in the upper chamber as Leader Chuck Schumer tries to hang onto their razor thin majority margin.
Retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow spoke in support of Rep. Slotkin at the MotorCity Casino on November 5, 2024 as results were tabulated in the crucial swing state
Rola Makki wears an 'Arab Americans for Trump' crew neck at Mike Rogers' election night watch party on November 5, 2024
Former Rep. Mike Rogers speaks at a campaign event with vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance in Flint, Michigan on November 4, 2024
She will serve in the Michigan delegation alongside Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who is not up for reelection until the 2028 elections after winning a second term in the 2022 midterms.
While there are 47 Democrats and 49 Republicans in the Senate, the four independent senators caucus with the Democrats and therefore maintain the party's majority.
Michigan has a growing number of Muslim electorate and other Democrats who support their opposition to the party leaders backing Israel in its war with Hamas terrorists operating out of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
This has helped the state move more liberal over the last few years – though Michigan remains a battleground swing state in presidential elections.
