DETROIT (AP) 鈥 Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin has won Michigan鈥檚 open U.S. Senate seat, giving Democrats a bittersweet victory in a swing state that also backed Republican President-elect Donald Trump in his successful bid to return to the White House.
Slotkin, a third-term representative, defeated former Republican congressman Mike Rogers. Democrats have held both Senate seats in Michigan for decades, but were left without retiring incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow this year.
Michigan鈥檚 was among a handful of Senate races Democrats struggled to defend. They lost their U.S. Senate majority despite Slotkin鈥檚 narrow win.
The race was incredibly close. Just minutes before it was called for Slotkin, she addressed supporters in Detroit, acknowledging that many voters may have cast their ballots for her while also supporting Trump, who won the state鈥檚 electoral votes over Democrat Kamala Harris.
鈥淚t's my responsibility to get things done for Michiganders. No matter who鈥檚 in office, just as I did in President Trump鈥檚 first term," said Slotkin. 鈥淚鈥檓 a problem solver and I will work with anyone who is actually here to work.鈥
Slotkin鈥檚 win provides some solace for Democrats in the state, many of whom entered Election Day with high confidence following sweeping victories in the 2022 midterms. Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer still controls the executive branch and Democrats held onto the Senate, but Republicans won a majority of state House seats this election.
And Republicans also captured a mid-Michigan seat vacated by Slotkin, considered one of the most competitive races in the country.
The presidential race at the top of the ticket was expected to heavily influence the outcome, but Slotkin became the second Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in a battleground state that also backed Trump for president, following Wisconsin incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin earlier Wednesday.
Trump won Michigan in 2016 by just over 10,000 votes, marking the first time a Republican presidential candidate had secured the state in nearly three decades. This time, he expanded that margin to about 80,000 votes.
Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, campaign shortly after Stabenow in early 2023. With a largely uncontested primary, Slotkin built a significant fundraising advantage and poured it into advertising. Her high-profile supporters included former President Barack Obama and Stabenow, who helped her on the campaign trail.
On the Republican side, faced multiple challengers for the party鈥檚 nomination, including former Reps. Justin Amash and Peter Meijer, the latter of whom withdrew before the Aug. 6 primary. Rogers served in the U.S. House from 2001 to 2015 and chaired the House Intelligence Committee.
Rogers called Slotkin to concede soon after The Associated Press called the race, both campaigns confirmed.
鈥淐ongratulations to Congresswoman Slotkin on her victory, I wish her the best as she serves the people of Michigan in the Senate," Rogers said in a statement.
Slotkin鈥檚 victory extends the Republicans鈥 losing streak in Michigan U.S. Senate races, where no GOP candidate has won since 1994. Michigan鈥檚 other Democratic senator, Gary Peters, is serving a term that ends in 2027.
Slotkin and other Michigan Democrats focused much of their campaigns on reproductive rights, arguing that Republican opponents would back a national abortion ban, although Rogers said he wouldn't. How effectively the issue motivated voting in a state where reproductive rights were enshrined in the constitution by Michigan voters in 2022 remained to be seen.
About 4 in 10 Michigan voters said the economy and jobs is the top issue facing the country, according to , a sweeping survey of more than 110,000 voters nationally, including about 3,700 voters in Michigan. About 2 in 10 Michigan voters said immigration is the most pressing issue, and roughly 1 in 10 named abortion.
Slotkin used her funding advantage to establish her narrative early, aiming to connect both with her base and disillusioned Republicans.
鈥淲e all know that it鈥檚 been a tough election season,鈥 Slotkin said Wednesday in Detroit. 鈥淚 believe in my bones that America is at its best when we have two healthy parties that push and pull and debate on issues of policy and substance and make our laws better.鈥
She added, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what our founding fathers intended, and it鈥檚 what makes our country great.鈥
