3/27/13 - Congressman Mike Rogers says he is giving serious consideration to a possible run in 2014 for the Senate seat that Democrat Carl Levin plans to vacate. The Howell Republican, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, announced earlier this month that he was looking into the idea. In the district yesterday, he stopped by WHMI for an in-depth interview on a variety of topics including cyber-warfare, Syria and Iranian nuclear ambitions. As for the Senate run, Rogers said his decision to consider a run didnât come about because of the title. "I'll weigh the impact I think I'm having as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee...versus the impact I think I might be able to have as a Senator." He says there are a lot of family discussions about what would happen over the next two years, but he expects to make a decision sooner than later. The 78-year-old Levin, who has served in the Senate since 1978, announced earlier this month he would not seek a seventh term. Rogers joins other Michigan Republicans interested in a run including West Michigan Congressman Justin Amash, former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, former Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis, state Senator Roger Kahn of Saginaw and Ronna Romney McDaniel, the niece of 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney. On the Democratic side, Congressman Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township and Debbie Dingell, a longtime party activist and wife of Congressman John Dingell of Dearborn, are seriously considering a run. Rogers says he expects the race will draw significant national interest and money as Republicans have not won a Senate seat in Michigan since 1994. The full interview with Rogers will air Sunday on WHMIâs Viewpoint. (JK)
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