Mike Rogers (Michigan politician)

Early life and career

Rogers was born in Livonia, Michigan, the son of Joyce A. and John C. Rogers. He graduated from Adrian College in 1985, from which he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and sociology. Rogers served in the United States Army from 1985 to 1989.{{Cite web | access-date = 22 February 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190219220759/http://ip3international.com/team/ | archive-date = 2019-02-19

Law enforcement career

Rogers worked as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in its Chicago office, specializing in organized crime and public corruption from 1989 to 1994. He is a member of the Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2017, Rogers was interviewed to be director of the FBI after James Comey was dismissed.

Michigan State Senate

Rogers was first elected in 1994. In 1998, he won a second term with 68% of the vote. He represented three counties: Clinton, Livingston, and Shiawassee. He served as majority leader from 1999 to 2000. Rogers wrote legislation creating the Michigan Education Savings Program.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Rogers was elected as a Republican from the 8th district of Michigan to the United States House of Representatives in one of the nation's closest congressional races of 2000. He defeated Democratic State Senator Dianne Byrum by 111 votes to win the district 8 seat left open by Debbie Stabenow. However, the district was redrawn to be much friendlier to Republicans in the 2002 round of redistricting. It lost its share of heavily Democratic Genesee County while being pushed further east into the solidly Republican northern portion of Oakland County and also gaining Republican-leaning Clinton County, north of Lansing.

Tenure

Rogers's measure to make education savings plans free of federal taxes was adopted in 2003 (see Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001). His health savings account program for low-income families who are covered by Medicaid was signed into law on February 8, 2008. Rogers was the primary sponsor of the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, H.R. bill 5037, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on May 29, 2006. The CBO has said that Rogers's H.R. 1206 to make it easier for states to obtain waivers from some Medical Loss Ratio requirements would add $1.1 billion to the deficit between 2013 and 2022.

On November 30, 2011, Rogers introduced the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). Rogers introduced and supported the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 (H.R. 4681; 113th Congress), a bill that would authorize a variety of intelligence agencies and their appropriations for fiscal years 2014 and 2015. In March 2014, Rogers announced he would not seek an 8th term in Congress. He later launched "Something to Think About", a daily radio segment. Former Michigan State Senator Mike Bishop won the Republican primary and defeated Democratic challenger Eric Schertzing.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Health
• Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (Chairman)
  • As chair of the full committee, Rep. Rogers was entitled serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees.

U.S. Senate candidacies

Main article: 2024 United States Senate election in Michigan, 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan

In August 2023, Rogers announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate to succeed the retiring Democrat Debbie Stabenow. He won the Republican primary with over 60% of the vote on August 6, 2024, and was the Republican nominee in the general election against Democrat Elissa Slotkin. He was defeated in the November election by fewer than 20,000 votes, while Donald Trump carried the state for the presidency.

Rogers announced his candidacy for Senate in 2026 on April 14, 2025.

Political positions

Abortion

Rogers has said he will not attempt to change Michigan's 2022 constitutional amendment protecting legal access to abortion, saying the issue of abortion should be left to the states.

Economic policy

Rogers has supported Trump's plans for tariffs on foreign-made goods. He has said the main factor driving higher housing and consumer costs is high interest rates that could be reduced by "reining in outsized federal spending."

Health care

Rogers has voted repeatedly against Medicare negotiating drug prices, arguing a free market solution would be more effective.

Immigration

Rogers has blamed "open borders" for increases in crime in the United States and supports a border wall and increased immigration enforcement.

Israel-Palestine

Rogers is strongly pro-Israel, describing opposition to Israel's invasion of Gaza in July 2025 as "short sighted and politically naive."

LGBTQ rights

Rogers opposed Title IX protections introduced during the Biden administration protecting against gender identity discrimination and spoke out against transgender athletes participating in sports, describing the issue as personal to him.

Personal life

Rogers has been married to his second wife, Kristi Rogers, since 2010. He has two children from his first marriage. Rogers's older brother, Bill, was a state representative in Michigan.

Rogers sits on the Atlantic Council's Board of Directors. He is also the David M. Abshire Chair at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress, an Intelligence Project Senior Fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center, a member of George Mason University's National Security Institute Board of Advisors, and the chair of the board of trustees for the Mitre Corporation.

References

References

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2. "CNN Profiles - Mike Rogers - Host, "Declassified" & CNN National Security Commentator".
3. Weisman, Jonathan. (2024-08-07). "Elissa Slotkin and Mike Rogers Will Face Off in Key Michigan Senate Race". The New York Times.
4. (2024-11-06). "Democrat Elissa Slotkin wins Michigan Senate seat over Republican Mike Rogers".
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6. "Congressional Record - 111th Congress (2009-2010) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)".
7. Linfante, Austin. (3 July 2024). "Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers connected to Saudi companies, including one with nuclear ambitions". Heartland Signal.
8. (May 15, 2017). "Ex-Rep. Mike Rogers interviewed for FBI director". Detroit News.
9. "MI State Senate 26 Race - Nov 03, 1998".
10. (June 16, 2000). "Act No. 161 - Public Acts of 2000".
11. "2000 Official Michigan General Election Results – 8th District Representative in Congress 2 Year Term (1) Position". Michigan Department of State.
12. "MICROCOMP output file".
13. (January 8, 2023). "H.R.5037 - Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act".
14. Viebeck, Elise. [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/134091-cbo-gop-bill-revising-health-law-ratio-will-add-to-deficit/ "CBO: GOP bill revising health law ratio will add to deficit."] ''The Hill'', November 8, 2012.
15. "Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (2012; 112th Congress H.R. 3523) - GovTrack.us". GovTrack.us.
16. (May 30, 2014). "House authorizes intel programs through 2015". The Hill.
17. "H.R. 4681 - Summary". United States Congress.
18. "Race for Rogers' seat is wide open in 8th Congressional District | the Detroit News".
19. (November 6, 2014). ""Something to Think About" with Mike Rogers Launches in January on Radio Stations Nationwide Through Nation's Largest Talk Platform".
20. (November 4, 2014). "Former State Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop wins 8th Congressional District". Detroit News.
21. Spangler, Todd. (August 29, 2023). "Former Rep. Mike Rogers jumps into Michigan's US Senate race".
22. (14 April 2025). "Mike Rogers Will Run Again for Senate in Michigan". The New York Times.
23. Burke, Melissa Nann. (October 24, 2024). "Where Slotkin, Rogers stand on key policy issues in Michigan's heated Senate race".
24. (August 16, 2024). "Bankrolled by pharmaceuticals, Mike Rogers helped block Medicare price negotiation".
25. Rosciglione, Annabella. (2025-08-20). "Mike Rogers claims Michigan Democrats 'trying to out-left each other' on Israel stance in Senate race".
26. Wisely, John. (August 5, 2024). "Mike Rogers holds roundtable drawing transgender rights distinctions in U.S. Senate race". Detroit Free Press.
27. (2 January 2009). "Rogers family makes service part of life". mlive.
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32. (November 16, 2021). "Mike Rogers Elected Chairman of the MITRE Board of Trustees".