James Craig backs Rogers for U.S. Senate in Michigan

Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig on Monday backed Mike Rogers, his former rival in the Republican primary for the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.

Rogers, the former seven-term congressman from Brighton, has the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and has led fundraising in the GOP field.

"Like myself, Mike has dedicated his life to protecting the American people, from his time in the Army, to the FBI, to serving as the chair of the House Intelligence Committee," Craig said in a statement.

"I’m confident that as our next U.S. Senator, Mike will secure our Southern border and work closely with local law enforcement to keep our communities safe and secure. I look forward to working with him as we fight to defeat Joe Biden and the Democrats in November."

Three weeks ago, Craig suspended his campaign for Senate and told The Detroit News he was weighing a run for mayor of Detroit. 

Craig, who struggled mightily to raise money, at the time said he had made a "business decision" over concerns about the cost of obtaining and verifying the required 15,000 valid petition signatures he needed by April 23 to make the August primary ballot. Craig's campaign had reported about $28,000 cash on hand as of Dec. 31.

But Craig also had the best name identification among the GOP candidates in a January poll by the Glengariff Group, especially in southeast Michigan where he served as police chief in Detroit for eight years.

Craig had 38% name identification (10% favorable and 9% unfavorable); Rogers had 32% name ID (7% favorable and 4% unfavorable); and former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer of Grand Rapids Township had 35% name ID (split 8% favorable and 8% unfavorable), the survey found.

The most well-known Republicans also seeking the GOP Senate nomination include businessman Sandy Pensler of Grosse Pointe Park, former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash of Cascade Township and Michigan State Board of Education member Nikki Snyder of Dexter.

Pensler last week picked up an endorsement by former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the GOP presidential race in January.

Ramaswamy said he met Pensler while campaigning for former President Donald Trump in Michigan recently and also took a swipe at Rogers for being "supported by the establishment."

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Rogers also has endorsements from GOP U.S. Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Joni Ernst of Iowa and Steve Daines, chair of the NRSC, as well as U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg of Tipton and former U.S. Rep. Candice Miller of Harrison Township, who is now the Macomb County public works commissioner.

Democrats running for Senate include U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Holly, actor Hill Harper of Detroit, Dearborn businessman Nasser Beydoun and others.

mburke@detroitnews.com