Democrat Elissa Slotkin wins Michigan Senate race, barely beating Republican Mike Rogers

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin has dashed Republican hopes of winning a Michigan Senate spot for nan first clip since 1994 pinch a constrictive triumph complete GOP challenger Mike Rogers.

Slotkin leads pinch 48.6% of nan vote, edging ever truthful somewhat past Rogers’ 48.3% pinch 99% of votes counted, nan Associated Press reports.

Slotkin, who represents Michigan’s 7th District successful Congress, stepped into nan title erstwhile four-term Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow announced her retirement.

Rogers, a erstwhile House Intelligence Committee chairman, was hoping to subordinate history and undo 3 decades of Democratic power successful nan U.S. Senate for Michigan. The past Republican to triumph nan Senate successful Michigan was Spencer Abraham successful 1994, who hit retired Democrat Bob Carr.

Throughout nan campaign, nan candidates sparred connected hot-button issues afflicting voters successful nan Wolverine State for illustration electric conveyance mandates, border and migration policy, and taxes. In nan end, Slotkin was capable to flooded questions astir her farming background, which led Rogers to nab a important endorsement from Michigan Farm Bureau.

Though nan title tightened toward nan end, Slotkin was agelong favored to triumph nan spot successful polling data.

Slotkin, who’s been successful astatine positioning herself arsenic a mean passim her legislature career, continued to play to nan mediate this rhythm to clinch her Hail Mary win.

On forbidden immigration, she group herself isolated from chap Democrats, arguing that she pushed for tighter separator restrictions.

In 1 run ad, she adopted a tough-on-the-border tone, telling voters: “No one’s proud of what’s happening astatine our confederate separator and everyone successful Washington’s to blame.”

In different ad, nan Democratic campaigner flip-flopped connected nan rumor of electrical conveyance mandates, telling voters, “No one’s gonna show america what to buy, and nary one’s gonna instruction anything.”

These attempts to displacement to nan correct sparked galore feuds pinch nan Rogers campaign, which tried feverishly to rebut her mean makeover.

Rogers, a erstwhile Michigan rep successful Congress, campaigned aggressively against Slotkin for her connections to a arguable Chinese government-sponsored electrical artillery works successful Big Rapids, her dubious connections to nan authorities she represents, and her questionable background arsenic a farmer.

Trump endorsed GOP hopeful Mike Rogers early connected successful nan Michigan Senate race. AFP via Getty Images

The Post reported that Slotkin takes a farming taxation in installments at her agrarian Oakland County home, but does nary farming connected nan property. The taxation trim is virtually grandfathered in, Slotkin’s run said.

But successful 2 hour-long TV debates, 1 successful Grand Rapids, nan different successful Southfield, Rogers grounded to onslaught Slotkin for taking nan taxation credit.

Slotkin’s first clip casting a ballot successful Michigan was successful 2018, erstwhile she moved backmost from Washington, D.C. to tally for Congress. But nan carpetbagger onslaught worked successful some directions. Slotkin framed Rogers arsenic a “Florida man.” Rogers lived successful Florida for years aft departing Congress successful 2015.

In nan end, Slotkin maintained nan lead she held since nan beginning.