Republican James Craig, former police chief of Detroit, has indicated that he is strongly considering running for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. Craig stated that his mind is “99% made up” and that he will announce his decision within the next 60 days. He dismissed the possibility of other Republican candidates, such as former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, influencing his decision. Craig believes that his potential primary opponents are watching him closely.
The current holder of the Senate seat, Democrat Debbie Stabenow, announced in January that she will not seek a fifth term in 2024. Several Democratic candidates have already emerged to replace her, including U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, actor and businessman Hill Harper, State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh, and former state Rep. Leslie Love. On the Republican side, the candidates include State Board of Education member Nikki Snyder, Romulus attorney Alexandria Taylor, and first-time candidate Michael Hoover.
Craig, who has previously run for governor and is well-known for his appearances on Fox News as a law enforcement expert, would be the most recognizable Republican contender. Eric Castiglia, chairman of the Brighter Michigan political action committee, believes that Craig will ultimately enter the race due to his name recognition across the state. Castiglia has also spoken to other Republicans seeking the Senate nomination, including Snyder.
Other potential Republican candidates for the Senate seat include Mike Rogers, who served in the U.S. House from 2001-2015, John Tuttle, vice chair of the New York Stock Exchange, and Sandy Pensler, a businessman from Grosse Pointe Park who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2018.
Craig’s tenure as Detroit’s police chief ended in 2021 when he retired to launch a bid for the Republican nomination for governor. However, his campaign was derailed by a wave of fraudulent petition signatures. Despite this setback, Craig raised over $3 million for his campaign. With the GOP primary for the Senate seat wide open, political analysts suggest that Craig should be the first to enter the race in order to demonstrate his ability to build a strong campaign team and take on the Democratic candidate, likely Slotkin.
Recently, Craig has been examining key issues facing Michigan and the country. He participated in a phone call with a resident who opposes Gotion’s plans to bring an electric vehicle battery parts plant to the Big Rapids area. Some Republicans have criticized the project due to the company’s ties to China. Craig argued that the project made “no sense” and expressed distrust towards China.
Supporters of the project, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, see it as a major economic development opportunity for Northern Michigan. However, Craig questioned whether the large number of new jobs could be filled and raised concerns about prioritizing job creation over safety.
In conclusion, James Craig is strongly considering running for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. He dismissed the influence of other Republican candidates and plans to announce his decision within the next 60 days. Craig’s potential entry into the race would make him the most well-known Republican contender. He faces a field of Democratic candidates who have already begun campaigning to replace the retiring Senator Stabenow. Craig’s previous bid for governor was derailed by fraudulent petition signatures, but he raised significant funds for his campaign. As the GOP primary for the Senate seat remains wide open, Craig could have an opportunity to showcase his campaign abilities and take on the Democratic frontrunner, likely Elissa Slotkin.
Original Story at www.detroitnews.com – 2023-08-14 22:57:07
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