Israel a potential issue in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race

(The Center Square) – Candidates in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race disagree on issues ranging from electric vehicles to crime, but most recently, they’ve clashed over foreign policy.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich, is facing former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers. Republicans hope to flip the seat as incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow is not running for reelection.

Slotkin criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent address to Congress, saying he “continues to play politics.”

“It was a classic case of the messenger versus the message, given the significant problems I’ve had with his policies, the coalition members he surrounds himself with, and the incentive he has to stay in office,” she said.

Slotkin served as a CIA analyst in Iraq and worked in the U.S. Department of Defense during the Obama administration. She ran for office in 2017 and has served as the congresswoman for Michigan’s 8th congressional district since then.

During her time in office, Slotkin voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would transfer police funding to community-based programs, among other things.

She voted for the HEROES Act, a $3 trillion stimulus package, the $2.2 trillion Build Back Better Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which a Goldman Sachs report projects will cost a total of $1.2 trillion.

Slotkin also co-sponsored the Ban Corporate PACs Act, which would ban corporate Political Action Committees. 

Slotkin’s campaign prioritizes gun control, abortion access, domestic manufacturing, electric vehicles and renewable energy and lowering health care costs.

“Elissa is running to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate to continue her life of service to the country she loves,” her campaign website says. “That means defending and expanding Michigan’s middle class, making critical items in America, keeping our kids safe from the things that are truly harming them, and protecting our rights and democracy.”

Slotkin leads Rogers 45%-41% according to a recent Emerson College poll. However, 14% of voters were undecided

The former President Donald Trump-endorsed Rogers released a statement in support of Netanyahu.

“America must remain committed to our friends and partners in Israel as they fight to eliminate terrorists who committed unspeakable atrocities on Oct. 7,” he said.

Rogers served in the FBI specializing in organized crime and public corruption before getting elected to the Michigan State Senate in 1994. He served as U.S. rep for Michigan’s 8th congressional district from 2001-2015.

During his time in office, Rogers introduced the Michigan Education Savings Program, which created tax-free education savings plans.

He also introduced the Health Savings Account program for low-income families, and sponsored the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act, which prohibits protests near cemeteries for veterans.

Rogers’ campaign focuses on crime, the border, the econom, and stopping China’s global dominance. He has argued that buying EVs supports China, saying most EV parts are made there.

“We’re going to make America respected again,” Rogers said during a visit to Midland last week.

“We’re gonna make America safe again. We’re gonna make our groceries affordable again. We’re gonna get America believing in ourselves again, for the future of this country.”

Michigan early voting for the November election starts Sept. 26.