A Michigan farmers’ group endorsed the Republican candidate in the state’s competitive U.S. Senate race for the first time in nearly 20 years following reports that Democratic candidate Elissa Slotkin received farming tax credits without holding a farming license.
AgriPac said this week that it is backing Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman, over Slotkin in the tightly-contested Senate race. The election could determine party control of the upper chamber next year.
Rogers said he was “honored and grateful to have earned the endorsement of AgriPac and the farmers across Michigan who feed our nation and power Michigan’s economy.”
“As Michigan’s Senator, our farmers know I’ll always have their back, and I’ll fight to lower costs, slash needless regulations, and pass the Farm Bill so farmers can thrive and leave a lasting legacy for the next generation to succeed and feed the world.”
Slotkin, the Democrat vying to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, recently drew criticism after it was reported that she received a farming tax credit for her home without holding a farming license or having an active agricultural operation.
The tax credit allows Slotkin to pocket around $2,700 a year, according to the New York Post.
Maggie Abboud, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said it was “no surprise” that Slotkin was passed over for the endorsement.
“It’s no surprise Elissa Slotkin lost this key endorsement because she was caught lying about being a farmer,” Abboud said.
This is the first time since 2006 that AgriPac has endorsed a Republican in the race. Previously, the group backed Stabenow, who spent her career focused on farming issues and chaired the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry from 2011 to 2015 and again since 2021.
Agriculture is the second largest industry in Michigan. It contributes over $100 billion annually to the state’s economy and accounts for nearly a quarter of the state’s workforce, according to the Michigan Farm Bureau.
AgriPac is the political action committee for the Michigan Farm Bureau, a representative body for the state’s agriculture industry that provides educational programs, scholarships, and lobbying, which also runs an insurance company for farmers.
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