Former GOP member who supported impeachment of Trump withdraws from Michigan Senate race

Former Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., made a surprising announcement on Friday evening by revealing that he was no longer continuing his campaign to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate. Meijer, whose family is known for founding the Meijer supermarket chain, expressed that he initially believed he had a strong chance of winning in November to address the concerning trendlines that have worsened in recent months. However, he acknowledged that the dynamics of the race had shifted significantly since the launch of his campaign, leading him to withdraw his name from the primary ballot after thoughtful consideration.

In a statement, Meijer stated, “After prayerful consideration, today I withdrew my name from the primary ballot. Without a strong pathway to victory, continuing this campaign only increases the likelihood of a divisive primary that would distract from the essential goal — conservative victories in November.”

Meijer represented Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District from 2021 to 2023, losing his re-election bid in the 2022 Republican primary to a challenger within his own party. Notably, he was among ten House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, events at the U.S. Capitol.

Shortly after Meijer’s announcement, Trump took to Truth Social to express his views on the matter. He congratulated what he referred to as “all Good Republicans” and emphasized that the group of Republican representatives who voted for his impeachment, including Meijer, were no longer in the picture. Trump implied that Meijer’s stance against him had spelled the end of his political career.

Trump’s post on Truth Social read, “Peter Meijer, one of the 10 Impeachers of your Favorite President, ME, and someone thought of to have a very good political future, has just withdrawn from the Senate Race in the Great State of Michigan.”

Referring to the outcome of Meijer’s previous electoral defeat, Trump added, “Once he raised his very little and delicate hand to Impeach President Trump, his Political Career was OVER! Last time he lost in the Primary to a nice, but unknown, person, and now he lost to a GREAT Candidate, Mike Rogers.”

The former president suggested that the remaining Republican representatives who voted to impeach him would also meet a similar fate in their re-election bids. Of the original ten, only Reps. Dan Newhouse of Washington and David Valadao of California continue to hold office.

As Meijer exited the Senate race, the field now consists of ten Republicans vying for nomination, with Mike Rogers and Justin Amash being former Michigan representatives in the mix. Mike Rogers, who has garnered significant support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, currently stands as the favored candidate for the party nomination. He is positioned to potentially face off against other popular Michigan politicians in the general election if he secures victory in the primary.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., represents the top-ranking Democrat in the race, surpassing her closest rival, actor Hill Harper, in polling numbers. Slotkin and Rogers are among the prominent figures seeking to fill the impending vacancy left by retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

Amidst the political maneuvering and changing landscapes in the Michigan Senate race, the withdrawal of Peter Meijer has added another layer of intrigue to an already dynamic and closely watched contest.