Former GOP Rep. Peter Meijer announces Michigan Senate bid
axios.comNov 06, 2023
Republican Peter Meijer Running for Senate in Michigan
The Facts
Former US Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) announced Monday he is running in the 2024 Republican primary for Michigan's open US Senate seat.
Meijer is joining the field competing to replace Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who announced her retirement in January after more than two decades in her seat.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This is a bad choice by Meijer. Not only did his anti-Trump vote cost him in his last primary election, but Democrats even boosted his radical opponent — betting (eventually correctly) — that Gibbs would be easier to defeat in the general election. There are too many forces working against Meijer for his run to amount to anything that would threaten the Democratic Party.
Pro-Trump narrative
Meijer is an unviable candidate. He didn't just betray Trump — the national leader of the GOP — and the former president’s supporters by voting for impeachment, his voting record in Congress showed a propensity for voting in step with the Biden administration more than any serious Republican should side with the opposing party.
Conservative narrative
Peter Meijer is an ethical Constitutional Conservative who has a strong centrist appeal. While he voted to impeach Trump, he would also support Trump in unseating Joe Biden in 2024. Meijer speaks to a strong current in the GOP base and will be a contender to be Michigan's next senator.
Nerd narrative
There’s a 63% chance that Republicans will control the Senate after the 2024 elections, according to the Metaculus prediction community.