Gary Peters Leads Poll, Hires Campaign Manager #MISEN

Peters is running for Senate. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Democratic Rep. Gary Peters has a campaign manager and a lead in the polls — but he’s still awaiting a GOP opponent for the open-seat Senate race in Michigan.

With the Republican field likely to begin to take shape next month, the third-term Democrat announced on Tuesday that Julie Petrick has signed on as campaign manager. Petrick managed Peters’ first election to Congress in 2008 and is coming from the political team at EMILY’s List.

In the race for the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, the 14th District’s Peters took an early lead in a hypothetical matchup with the 8th District’s GOP Rep. Mike Rogers, who is considering a bid. The poll was conducted by EPIC-MRA and found Peters with a 7-point lead, though a third of voters were undecided. Full story

Remainders: Conservatives Buy Airtime for Mark Sanford

• #IASEN: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will not run for Senate and has encouraged Republican Rep. Steve King to seek the open seat instead.
• #MTSEN: EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock confirmed her interest in a bid for Senate.
• #MISEN: Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich. discussed his Senate campaign in an interview with CQ Roll Call.
• #MI14: Several Detroit-area Democrats are positioning to run for Peters’ seat including his primary foe from 2012, former Rep. Hansen Clarke.

What we’re mulling on Thursday…

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Gary Peters Kicks Off Senate Bid #MISEN

Peters will run for Senate. (Shira Toeplitz/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., officially entered the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin on Wednesday during a visit to his great-great-grandfather’s house in Rochester Hills.

“We’re going to continue the work that I’ve done in the U.S. House, fighting for middle class, fighting and making sure we have jobs and opportunities, growing the economy here in Michigan,” Peters said in his first interview with a national outlet after his announcement.

Democrats have essentially cleared the field for Peters, who represented both suburban and downtown Detroit during his three terms in Congress. CQ Roll Call reported on Monday that Peters would make his Senate announcement in his hometown, which is in politically pivotal Oakland County. Full story

Remainders: Special (Election) Report

Gary Peters to Enter Michigan Senate Race #MIsen

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Gary Peters will announce his campaign for Senate on Wednesday, giving Democrats a top candidate to run for the open seat in Michigan.

Peters will make the announcement in his hometown of Rochester Hills, a top Democratic aide confirmed to CQ Roll Call. However, the surrounding area in Oakland County has also proved pivotal for victory in recent statewide victories.

Democrats have the advantage to hold retiring Sen. Carl Levin’s seat. Peters is not expected to face a primary, and Republicans are still looking for a candidate. CQ Roll Call Contributing Writer Stuart Rothenberg rates this race as Safe Democrat.

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Monday Remainders: Mark Sanford and Sons

Sanford had a rough week on the campaign trail. (Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images File Photo)

What we’re mulling on Monday …

• #MIsen: Michigan’s Democratic primary waters are clear now — so when will Rep. Gary Peters jump into the Senate race? Debbie Dingell announced in a Saturday Facebook post that she will not seek the Democratic nomination to replace retiring Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich. No word yet from Peters on an announcement.
• #SC01: Not everyone has abandoned former Gov. Mark Sanford’s special election bid. National Right to Life PAC spent almost $6,000 on mailers for Sanford, according to online records with the Federal Election Commission.
• #HIsen: Your move, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will back Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary, via the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

What you might have missed “At the Races” on Monday…. Full story

Michigan: Gary Peters Posts Strong Fundraising Ahead of Senate Race Decision

Peters is considering a bid for Senate. (Shira Toeplitz/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., reported the strongest first-quarter fundraising numbers of all of the federal candidates eyeing retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin’s seat.

Peters, who is considering a Senate bid, raised $373,000 and reported having more than $800,000 in cash on hand at the end of March.

First-quarter fundraising reports for members of Congress were due on Monday. Peters raked in more than his potential GOP Senate rivals — Reps. Mike Rogers and Justin Amash — combined. However, Rogers maintains a large cash-on-hand advantage. Full story

Michigan: Republican Cardiologist Steele Considers Senate Run

Cardiologist Rob Steele is considering a bid for the open Senate seat in Michigan in 2014, according to a local source with direct knowledge of his interest.

Steele is best-known among Republicans for his 2010 bid against longtime Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich. During that campaign, Steele picked up former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin’s endorsement and gave national Democrats a brief scare that Dingell could lose his safe Democratic seat. Steele lost by 17 points.

(See also in Roll Call: Johnson Retirement Gives Senate GOP Another Opportunity)

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Michigan: Ronna Romney McDaniel Will Not Run for Senate

Ronna Romney McDaniel, niece of Mitt Romney, told the Detroit News on Tuesday that she will not seek the GOP nomination to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin.

Romney McDaniel considered the race last month after her father, Scott Romney, passed on a run.

But she cited family obligations as her ultimate reason not to run, telling the newspaper, “It’s not the right time to put my kids through something like that.”

Democrats have the advantage in the race for Levin’s seat given Michigan’s recent voting history. Potential Democratic candidates include Debbie Dingell, the wife of longtime Rep. John D. Dingell, and Reps. Gary Peters and Dan Kildee.

On the GOP side, Reps. Mike Rogers and Justin Amash, former GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis and former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land continue to mull runs.

Michigan: Granholm Won’t Run for Open Senate Seat

Granholm will not seek the Senate in 2014. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced Friday via Facebook that she will not run for retiring Sen. Carl Levin’s seat.

“Friends, thanks for all of the encouragement on the Michigan Senate seat, but I’m not going to run,” the Democrat wrote. “I appreciate all of the outreach I’ve received; for several reasons it’s just not right for us (it’s a family decision). My best to all the contenders — Levin’s US Senate seat will stay blue!”

Democrats are in a strong position to keep Levin’s seat given Michigan’s recent voting history. Potential Democratic candidates include Debbie Dingell, the wife of longtime Rep. John D. Dingell, and Reps. Gary Peters and Dan Kildee.

On the GOP side, Reps. Mike Rogers and Justin Amash, former GOP Chair Saul Anuzis and former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land are mulling runs.

Michigan: Scott Romney Not Running for Senate Source Says

Scott Romney will not run for Senate in Michigan, according to a state GOP source. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Scott Romney will not run for the open Michigan Senate seat in 2014, according to a state GOP source who spoke with Romney late on Tuesday.

Romney, the brother of the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney, would have kicked off the primary in the strongest position in the field, according to a new automated poll released Tuesday by a GOP firm.

But the corporate attorney has decided to forgo a bid for retiring Sen. Carl Levin’s seat. Democrats have an advantage in the race given the state’s electoral history and, barring a top-tier GOP recruit, the party is in a good position to keep the seat.

The list of potential Democratic candidates includes Debbie Dingell, the wife of longtime Rep. John D. Dingell, former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, former Rep. Mark Schauer, Rep. Gary Peters and Rep. Dan Kildee. Full story

Michigan: Granholm, Romney Top Senate Field in New GOP Poll

Granholm is mum so far on a Senate bid. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Attorney Scott Romney and former Gov. Jennifer Granholm lead their respective party fields in the 2014 Michigan Senate race, according to a new automated survey from Harper Polling, a GOP firm.

Fifty-nine percent of Democrats surveyed said they would back Granholm in a primary, while 13 percent backed Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., 6 percent supported Rep. Dan Kildee, and 23 percent of respondents said they were undecided.

Meanwhile, Romney — the brother of the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee — leads the potential Republican field with 26 percent of those surveyed. Rep. Mike Rogers came in second with 17 percent support, followed by Rep. Justin Amash with 11 percent. Thirty-seven percent said they were unsure of whom they supported.

The Rothenberg Political Report rates the race as “Safe Democratic,” due in part to the state’s recent history of rejecting Republicans statewide, explained Stu Rothenberg in his most recent Roll Call column.

The new numbers come just a couple days after Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced his retirement, opening the floodgates of potential candidates interested in his seat.

Here’s a look at the current field of possible contenders:

Democrats: 

• Debbie Dingell, the politically active wife of longtime Rep. John Dingell, is considering a run, CNN reported on Monday. Dingell did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Tuesday.
• Granholm had no comment on the Senate race, according to her spokeswoman. About a month ago, Granholm left her Current TV program. She ended her gubernatorial tenure with low approval ratings but more recently had delivered one of the most rousing speeches at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
• A handful of news reports also mentioned Kildee, a freshman, as potential candidate.
• On Friday, Peters told Detroit Free Press editorial board that he is “going to seriously consider” running.
• Former Rep. Mark Schauer has not issued a public statement on the race, but sources continue to suggest the former one-term congressman as a potential candidate. Schauer did not return a request for comment. Full story

Michigan: Scott Romney Considering Senate Bid

Scott Romney, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s brother, is looking at running for retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin’s seat, according to a Michigan GOP source with first-hand knowledge of his interest.

The Republican is a Harvard-educated corporate attorney at the Detroit-based law firm Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, LLP. He was not immediately available for comment.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Gary Peters told The Detroit Free Press editorial board that he is “going to seriously consider” running. Peters, who ended 2012 with nearly $500,000 in cash on hand, is considered the Democrats’ top recruit.

It has been a topsy-turvy day in Michigan politics, as candidates have floated their names in and out of contention. Levin announced Thursday that he would not seek a seventh term next year.

Democrats begin the open-seat race with a decided advantage. But serious structural problems plague the Michigan Democratic Party. This race, along with the 2014 gubernatorial campaign, will test newly-elected Chairman Lon Johnson.

Michigan: Anuzis Mulling Senate Bid as More Republicans Opt Out

Anuzis said he's been approached to consider running for Senate. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 2:14 p.m. | Twenty-four hours after Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced his retirement, we  know more about who is not running to replace him than who is.

Former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis said he is mulling a run and has been approached about about seeking the seat. “I haven’t had a chance to look at it,” he said in a phone interview.

But while Anuzis is keeping his name in the mix, there are many more Republicans taking their names out of contention, including Rep. Candice S. Miller, who announced Friday that she will not run.

“While I am grateful for the interest people have shown, I will not be a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014,” the chairwoman of the House Administration Committee said in a statement, according to The Detroit News. “It is my sincere honor to serve the people of Michigan’s 10th District in the United States House of Representatives and in 2014 it is my intention to seek their support for re-election.” Full story

Michigan: Levin Announces He Will Retire in ’14

Levin announced he won't run again in 2014. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 7:37 p.m. | Michigan Democratic Sen. Carl Levin announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of 2014.

The chairman of the Armed Services Committee, first elected in 1978, is the longest-serving senator in Michigan history and will turn 80 before Election Day next year.

In a statement, Levin said the decision not to seek another term was “extremely difficult.”

“I love representing the people of Michigan in the U.S. Senate and fighting for the things that I believe are important to them,” he said. “As Barbara and I struggled with the question of whether I should run again, we focused on our belief that our country is at a crossroads that will determine our economic health and security for decades to come. We decided that I can best serve my state and nation by concentrating in the next two years on the challenging issues before us that I am in a position to help address; in other words, by doing my job without the distraction of campaigning for re-election.”

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