Mike Rogers (Michigan politician)
American politician (born 1963)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael J. Rogers (born June 2, 1963)[1] is an American law enforcement officer and politician who served from 2001 to 2015 as the U.S. representative for Michigan's 8th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he chaired the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 2011 to 2015.
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Mike Rogers | |
|---|---|
Rogers in 2019 | |
| Chair of the House Intelligence Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Silvestre Reyes |
| Succeeded by | Devin Nunes |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 8th district | |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Debbie Stabenow |
| Succeeded by | Mike Bishop |
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 26th district | |
| In office January 1, 1995 – January 3, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Gilbert DiNello |
| Succeeded by | Valde Garcia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 2, 1963 Livonia, Michigan, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
Diane Rogers (div. 2007)Kristi Clemens (m. 2010) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Bill Rogers (brother) |
| Education | Adrian College (BS) |
| Website | Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1985–1989 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Rogers was the Republican nominee in the 2024 U.S. Senate election in Michigan, narrowly losing to the Democratic nominee, Elissa Slotkin. In the 2026 election, he is again the Republican nominee and faces Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.[2]
Early life and career
Rogers was born in Livonia, Michigan,[3] the son of Joyce A. and John C. Rogers, and spent his early years in neighboring Redford Township.[4] His family moved to Brighton Township in Livingston County, where he graduated from Howell High School in 1981.[5][6] He graduated from Adrian College in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and sociology. Rogers served in the United States Army from 1985 to 1989.[3] Rogers is on Telefónica's Technical and Security Advisory Committee and a board member of IP3 International.[7][8]
Law enforcement career
From 1989 to 1994, Rogers worked as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in its Chicago office, specializing in organized crime and public corruption. In 2017, Rogers was interviewed to be director of the FBI after James Comey was dismissed.[9]
Michigan Senate
Rogers was first elected in 1994. In 1998, he won a second term with 68% of the vote.[10] He represented Clinton, Livingston, and Shiawassee Counties.
U.S. House of Representatives
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Elections
Rogers was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 8th district in one of the nation's closest congressional races of 2000. He defeated Democratic State Senator Dianne Byrum by 111 votes.[11]
Tenure
Rogers was the primary sponsor of the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, H.R. bill 5037, which President George W. Bush signed into law on May 29, 2006.[12] The CBO has said that Rogers's H.R. 1206 to make it easier for states to obtain waivers from some Medical Loss Ratio requirements would add $1.1 billion to the deficit between 2013 and 2022.[13]
On November 30, 2011, Rogers introduced the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA).[14] He introduced the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 (H.R. 4681; 113th Congress), a bill that would authorize a variety of intelligence agencies and their appropriations for fiscal years 2014 and 2015.[15][16] In March 2014, Rogers announced he would not seek an eighth House term.[17] He later launched "Something to Think About", a daily radio segment.[18]
Committee assignments
U.S. Senate campaigns
2024
In August 2023, Rogers announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate to succeed the retiring Democrat Debbie Stabenow.[19] He won the Republican primary with over 60% of the vote on August 6, 2024, and was the Republican nominee in the general election.[20][21] He lost to Democratic nominee Elissa Slotkin in the general election by fewer than 20,000 votes, while Donald Trump won the state in the concurrent presidential election by just over 80,000 votes.[21]
2026
On April 14, 2025, Rogers announced his candidacy for his state's other U.S. Senate seat.[22] Running unopposed, he won the Republican primary on August 4, 2026. In August 2026, Rogers attended fundraisers held by AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobby group,[23][24] but he has asked AIPAC not to campaign for him, fearing it could hurt his chances.[24][25] He will face Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in the general election on November 3, 2026.[26]
Political positions
Abortion
Rogers opposes abortion.[27] In October 2023, he said he supported the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade.[28]
In October 2024, Rogers said he would not attempt to change Michigan's 2022 constitutional amendment protecting legal access to abortion, saying the issue should be left to the states.[29]
Economic policy
Rogers has supported Trump's plans for tariffs on foreign-made goods. He has said the main factor driving higher housing and consumer costs is high interest rates that could be reduced by "reining in outsized federal spending."[30]
Foreign policy
Gordie Howe bridge
As a congressman, Rogers opposed constructing a bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor. Instead, he supported the construction of a second Ambassador Bridge span, which Canada opposed.[31][32] In 2026, Rogers supported Trump's threats to keep the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Michigan and Canada from opening.[33] Rogers said it would be useful as part of the trade war with Canada during the second Trump administration.[33]
Iran
Rogers supported Trump's decision to launch strikes on Iran during the June 2025 Twelve-Day War.[34]
In February 2026, Rogers posted his support for initial attacks during the 2026 Iran war.[35][36][37] In March 2026, Rogers initially said of the war's impact on gas prices, "We're gonna be fine; we got plenty of oil".[38][39] He said, "You'll get your oil, because we're going to pump our oil right here in America, and we got plenty." Rogers's 2026 Senate campaign said the resulting 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis underscored the necessity of energy independence.[39][38] In June 2026, Rogers said he supported the then ongoing negotiations under the auspices of the 60-day Islamabad Memorandum,[40] which expired in August. He related the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to decreased gas and fertilizer prices.[40] In August, Rogers said Trump had the authority to continue the war without congressional approval, but that he should pursue that approval regardless: "The commander-in-chief has the authority and the ability to do a lot of what he's doing. I just think working with the legislature is probably a better idea."[41]
Israel-Palestine
Rogers is a longtime supporter of Israel and was aligned with AIPAC during his tenure in Congress.[23] In July 2025, Rogers defended Israel's right to defend itself and criticized opposition to its conduct in the Gaza war.
Health care
Rogers has voted repeatedly against Medicare negotiating drug prices, arguing a free market solution would be more effective.[42] Rogers has called for ending key provisions of the Affordable Care Act,[43] and opposed extended subsidies for the Affordable Care Act.[44] Rogers also voted against the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, legislation that provided health care and compensation to 9/11 first responders and survivors.[45][46]
Immigration
Rogers has blamed "open borders" for increases in crime in the United States and supports a border wall and increased immigration enforcement.[29]
LGBTQ rights
Rogers opposed Title IX regulations introduced during the Biden administration that expanded protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. He also opposed allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports.[47] He was endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans, a pro gay rights Republican organization.[48]
Personal life
Rogers has been married to his second wife, Kristi Rogers, since 2010. He has two children from his first marriage. Rogers's older brother Bill was a state representative in Michigan.[49]
Rogers is an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center,[50] a member of Antonin Scalia Law School's National Security Institute advisory board,[51] and was the chairman of the board of the Mitre Corporation as of November 2021.[52]
In 2022, Rogers purchased a home in Cape Coral, Florida, before moving back to Michigan ahead of his 2024 run for the U.S. Senate.[53][54]