Senate Republicans worried new candidate will tank chances to win back chamber

The Senate Republican campaign arm slammed Michigan Republican Senate hopeful Peter Meijer on Tuesday, expressing concern over the former congressman’s electability in 2024.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has been endorsing centrist candidates it believes can win the general election next year after a series of controversial nominees failed to secure key seats in the Senate in 2022. It has also asked specific candidates it does not believe can win the general election to bow out of their respective races.

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“Peter Meijer isn’t viable in a primary election, and there’s worry that if Meijer were nominated, the base would not be enthused in the general election,” NRSC Executive Director Jason Thielman said in a statement to Politico.

Meijer, who is considered a centrist Republican, likely would have received support from the committee prior to Donald Trump’s presidency. However, the former Michigan congressman saw a decrease in popularity after he voted to impeach Trump in 2021, even failing to win his next primary. As a result of his questionable popularity, the NRSC has asked Meijer to withdraw from the Senate race.

Members of the committee said they asked Meijer to withdraw over fears he would split the primary vote with another centrist Republican, which would give a more controversial candidate the nomination, possibly costing the party in the general election. Republicans are hoping to flip the Senate back into their control in 2024, but no Republican has represented Michigan in the Senate since 1994.

The NRSC, led by Chairman Steve Daines (R-MT), is hoping that former Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers will receive the Republican nomination next year instead. Rogers served as the House Intelligence Committee chairman from 2011 to 2015, but he has not served in Congress since 2015, before the Trump era. Rogers has been critical of Trump.

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Although Michigan is on the list of possible seats to overturn next year, it is not the main focus of the committee. The Republicans are focusing more heavily on the red-leaning states of Ohio, Montana, and West Virginia. But Republicans also see possible pickups in Arizona, Nevada, and Michigan.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the NRSC for comment.