UP Gazette

Mike Rogers, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, said he met with the Iron County GOP to discuss issues such as literacy rates impacting families and communities. Rogers shared his statement with the UP Gazette.

"Democrats have been calling the shots in Michigan for years, and they've failed families all across the board," said Rogers. "It's time for new leadership to Make Michigan Great Again by reshoring good-paying jobs, boosting literacy rates, and keeping Michigan a state where people want to live, work, and raise a family."

According to Rogers, the Iron County GOP members discussed Michigan's status as the 49th state in terms of population growth. They spoke about how new leadership could strengthen Michigan's education systems and job climate.

The Growing Michigan Together Council submitted a population growth report in December 2023 to Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the state legislature, according to a press release. The report found that Michigan ranked 49th in the nation in terms of population growth, and the state's educational outcomes were lagging behind those of peer states.

Rogers is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Gary Peters, who announced in January that he would not seek reelection, as reported by Michigan Advance.

Rogers represented Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives between 2000 and 2015, according to his website. He previously served in the U.S. Army, as an FBI Special Agent, and as a Michigan State Senator.