MIchigan Senate Candidate Rogers Under Fire for Alleged Carpetbagger Tactics
In a state where the Great Lakes meet the Atlantic Ocean, Republican candidate Mike Rogers is facing renewed criticism over his alleged ties to Florida. Despite running for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Rogers has been accused of spending more time on the Sunshine State's beaches than in the state he claims as home.
Rogers' campaign activity in Florida resurfaced last month when he spent over a week campaigning from his Cape Coral mansion, sparking concerns that he may not be as invested in Michigan as he claims. During this period, Rogers told a Michigan-focused audience that "my whole life is here [in Michigan]," but was actually in Florida at the time.
The controversy highlights Rogers' long-standing ties to Florida, which have raised questions about his residency and whether he's truly a Michigander at heart. His campaign has been accused of downplaying these concerns, pointing out that other Democratic candidates have connections to other states as well.
However, Democrats argue that Rogers' history of moving to Florida after making a fortune in industries he oversaw in Congress is a major red flag. "Mike Rogers enriched himself at Michiganders' expense, moved to Florida, made a fortune from industries he oversaw in Congress and shady foreign interests, and only came back so he could run for Senate," said Curtis Hertel, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party.
Rogers' campaign has also been linked to hard-right activists and clergy who have promoted false claims about election fraud. The candidate's own record on LGBTQ+ protections is equally concerning, with Rogers opposing protections in Congress.
As the Republican base consolidates around Rogers' campaign, Democrats are gearing up for a heated battle against a candidate who many see as more interested in Florida than Michigan. With the general election approaching, it remains to be seen whether Rogers can shake off the "carpetbagger" label and win over voters with his promise of getting "Michigan Working Again."
In a state where the Great Lakes meet the Atlantic Ocean, Republican candidate Mike Rogers is facing renewed criticism over his alleged ties to Florida. Despite running for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Rogers has been accused of spending more time on the Sunshine State's beaches than in the state he claims as home.
Rogers' campaign activity in Florida resurfaced last month when he spent over a week campaigning from his Cape Coral mansion, sparking concerns that he may not be as invested in Michigan as he claims. During this period, Rogers told a Michigan-focused audience that "my whole life is here [in Michigan]," but was actually in Florida at the time.
The controversy highlights Rogers' long-standing ties to Florida, which have raised questions about his residency and whether he's truly a Michigander at heart. His campaign has been accused of downplaying these concerns, pointing out that other Democratic candidates have connections to other states as well.
However, Democrats argue that Rogers' history of moving to Florida after making a fortune in industries he oversaw in Congress is a major red flag. "Mike Rogers enriched himself at Michiganders' expense, moved to Florida, made a fortune from industries he oversaw in Congress and shady foreign interests, and only came back so he could run for Senate," said Curtis Hertel, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party.
Rogers' campaign has also been linked to hard-right activists and clergy who have promoted false claims about election fraud. The candidate's own record on LGBTQ+ protections is equally concerning, with Rogers opposing protections in Congress.
As the Republican base consolidates around Rogers' campaign, Democrats are gearing up for a heated battle against a candidate who many see as more interested in Florida than Michigan. With the general election approaching, it remains to be seen whether Rogers can shake off the "carpetbagger" label and win over voters with his promise of getting "Michigan Working Again."
... I mean, I've moved around too in my life, but at least I didn't try to sell myself as a Michigander when I'm basically living the beach life down in Florida 
. It's like, if you wanna run for Senate here, you gotta be willing to put in the work and get involved in the community, not just pop up every now and then and expect people to take you seriously 
. And what really gets my goat is when they try to spin this stuff as if it's a fair fight - like, other candidates have connections too, but at least they're owning up to 'em 
. Rogers' whole thing just seems like a bunch of BS to me 
...
It's a big deal for a lot of people in Michigan.
! He's trying to run for Senate in Michigan, but it seems like he's only really interested in spending time in Florida 
. I mean, come on, if you're running for office in a state where the Great Lakes meet the Atlantic Ocean, shouldn't you be putting in more time and effort here? 
It's not just about his campaign activity, either - it's about whether he's really a Michigander at heart or just using the state as a stepping stone to get ahead. 
And let's be real, his ties to Florida are definitely shady, especially with all those connections to industries and foreign interests 
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. I think Democrats have a point in bringing this up – it does look suspiciously like Rogers is more interested in Florida than Michigan. We need someone who's genuinely going to represent our state, not just use us as a stepping stone 
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. Michigan deserves better than someone who's only really interested in serving his own interests 
The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to believe that Rogers' campaign is relying on a narrative that might be more appealing to some voters than a nuanced discussion of his policies and qualifications. 