WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow's announcement Thursday that she won't run for re-election shocked Michigan's political class and sparked buzz across the halls of Capitol Hill and Lansing about who would throw in for the battleground race in 2024.
Political insiders floated a stream of names expected to possibly run, including Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Lansing, a centrist who has widely been mentioned as a potential statewide candidate; Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson of Detroit, who has run statewide three times; and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ― the former Democratic presidential candidate who recently moved to Traverse City.
On the Republican side, the names mentioned include Rep.-elect John James of Farmington Hills; former Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer of Grand Rapids Township; former U.S. Rep. Candice Miller of Harrison Township, now Macomb County public works commissioner; and businessman and former gubernatorial candidate Kevin Rinke, who is reportedly considering a bid.
