Senate election in Michigan becomes a neck-and-neck race after Biden debate
Democrats received bad news Thursday after ratings for the Senate race in Michigan were tied, with the fate of President Joe Biden’s political future hanging in the balance.
The Cook Political Report For several reasons, the race for Michigan’s Senate seat has shifted from “leanly Democratic” to “undecided,” including the fact that Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), the leading Democratic candidate for the state’s vacant Senate seat, is trailing Biden nationally.
“If there was one race where Republicans had better chances even before the CNN debate and where there seem to be even better chances now, it is Michigan,” said the Cook Political Report Jessica Taylor writes.
The election analyst cites Biden’s weak performance in the June 27 debate and a closer presidential race in the Wolverine State as reasons for the rating shifts, which could affect Democrats’ turnout and thus reduce their chances of retaining their Senate seat.
Slotkin is expected to face former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), who has emerged as the favorite and has received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. The seat is vacant after Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced her retirement in January 2023.
While the report notes that Slotkin has raised solid funds and has solid credentials as a former CIA analyst who won a House seat for Republicans in 2018, the Michigan congresswoman has never won a statewide election and does not have the same advantages as an incumbent, contributing to the new rating.
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Slotkin told donors during a fundraiser on Tuesday that Biden is trailing Trump in private polls in the state, according to a report by the ^ “New York Times: The New York Times”. On average, public opinion polls in Michigan showed a neck-and-neck race in the presidential election, while Slotkin was slightly ahead in the Senate election, according to some recent polls.
After sitting with senior Biden campaign staff for more than an hour at the headquarters of the Senate Democratic campaign’s political arm on Thursday, most senators refused to speak to the press, but Stabenow told reporters she believed Biden’s team had devised an “aggressive” plan.
“I know he can win Michigan,” Stabenow said. “I know Michigan.”
The Michigan senator declined to say whether she believes Biden could win the election overall. The new rating comes after another significant change was released a few days ago by the political handicapper, which found that ratings for six states have shifted in Republican favor, benefiting Trump.
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The Cook Political Report In three states (Arizona, Georgia and Nevada) the forecast shifted from “undecided” to “leaning Republican” and in two other states (Minnesota and New Hampshire) the forecast shifted from “likely” to “leaning Democratic.” In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, the forecast also shifted from “likely” to “leaning Democratic.”
David Sivak contributed to this report
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