GOP Swing-State Senate Candidate Picks Up Cross-Aisle Support
Republican Mike Rogers has found a new backer in his fight for Michigan’s open Senate seat.
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Former Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin voiced support for Rogers during a Monday appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” even as he insisted he was not handing out formal endorsements. Co-host Joe Kernen repeatedly pushed the West Virginia independent to say the word.
“No, I’ve not endorsed anybody,” Manchin said. Pressed on whether he could accept a win by Rogers’ Democratic rival, Abdul El-Sayed, Manchin shot back, “No.” When Kernen told him to endorse Rogers, Manchin held the line while making his preference plain. “Well, no, no, I do support Mike Rogers,” he said. “I think Mike Rogers is a good person. I think he’ll do a great job.” (RELATED: Abdul El-Sayed Ekes Out Victory In Closer Than Expected Michigan Primary)
Manchin served in the Senate from 2010 to 2025, but dropped his party affiliation in his final months, calling the Democratic label “toxic,” and launched a drive in July to elect more independents, CNN reported. He has long faulted a two-party primary structure he says rewards the far ends of both sides. On CNBC, he praised Rogers, Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski as “independent, free-thinking Republicans, not completely crazy right or completely crazy left.”
Notably, Manchin — like Rogers — has been a long-time supporter of security state measures like the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Critics of FISA have consistently pointed to the measure’s far-reaching surveillance authorizations as a serious concern for American civil liberties. Manchin backed FISA reauthorization in 2018 and 2020, though he did not vote on the 2024 authorization. In 2028, the former West Virginia lawmaker stated, regarding FISA, “1,000 percent for it, for the security of our nation.” In Congress, Mike Rogers was a staunch supporter of FISA warrant powers, drawing criticism from advocates who opposed his hawkish foreign policy views and his disregard for civil liberties.
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Manchin was one of the few Democrats to oppose weakening the filibuster in 2013 and 2017, and in January 2022 he and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema joined Republicans to sink Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s push to change the rule for two election bills. That vote failed 48-52.
Manchin said Rogers “has to” reject President Donald Trump’s trade agenda to win, then added, “We’ll have to see,” CNN reported. Rogers has not gone that far, telling Fox News over the weekend he would judge each tariff on whether it helps or hurts the country. Manchin also committed to campaign for Collins in Maine, calling her someone whose loss would cost the Senate “the soul of the Senate.”
Rogers and El-Sayed are competing to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, and The Hill reported it is the only Democratic-held seat the Cook Political Report rates a toss-up, making it the GOP’s best flip target as the party defends its majority. Early voting begins Oct. 24.
A late-August survey for The Detroit News and WDIV-TV put Rogers ahead 45.8 percent to 44.4 percent within the margin of error, reversing earlier surveys that favored El-Sayed.
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