MI-SEN: GOP set for all-out battle over Michigan Senate seat

Michigan is headed for a hotly contested Senate race next year as Sen. Gary Peters (D) faces off against Republican John James, a 38-year-old African American military veteran who’s widely seen as a rising star within the GOP.

The Senate race will take place in a crucial battleground state that will be heavily fought-over in the 2020 presidential election after President Trump narrowly edged out Hillary Clinton in the previous contest.

The GOP sees a prime pickup opportunity to defeat Peters, a 61-year-old first-time senator with low name recognition. His seat is rated “Lean Democrat” by the Cook Political Report and he is considered the most vulnerable Democratic senator after Doug Jones in Alabama.

Republicans have strongly unified around James, a combat veteran and businessman who lost a Senate race against Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) in 2018. Peters, however, is seen as more vulnerable than Stabenow, who was in her third Senate term when she defeated James by more than 6 points last year.

James is also running unopposed in the GOP primary, unlike last year, and he has proven to be an adept fundraiser. He will be running in a presidential year when Republicans are highly motivated while Democrats appear divided as they agonize over who to pick as their presidential nominee.


https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/472710-gop-set-for-all-out-battle-over-michigan-senate-seat