Republican Party: Meijer’s Michigan Campaign May Diminish Prospects of Regaining Senate Control

According to Politico, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has criticized former Rep. Peter Meijer’s decision to run in the GOP primary for Michigan’s open Senate seat and urged him to withdraw from the race.

NRSC Executive Director Jason Thielman expressed concerns about Meijer’s viability in the primary election and the potential lack of enthusiasm from the base if he were to be nominated in the general election due to his previous vote to impeach former President Donald Trump in 2021. This led to a decrease in his support among Republicans, causing him to fail to win his next primary.

Furthermore, the NRSC is worried that Meijer’s candidacy could split the moderate votes in the primary with another centrist Republican, such as former Rep. Mike Rogers, which could result in the nomination of a candidate who is not well suited to win in the state.

Senate Republicans have not won a Senate seat in Michigan since 1994, and the NRSC has endorsed centrist candidates it believes can win in 2024, as reported by the Washington Examiner. As part of this strategy, the NRSC has asked specific candidates it does not believe can win the general election to quit their respective races.

Meijer, who comes from the family that owns the Midwest grocery chain, has strong name recognition and significant personal wealth and allies who could fund a super PAC.