Former representative. Peter Meijerwho lost his House seat after voting to impeach then-President Donald Trumpabandoned a Crowded Republican Senate primary in Michigan.
Angela Benander, spokesperson for the Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyne Bensonconfirmed to NBC News that Meijer withdrew his candidacy before the deadline of Friday afternoon.
“I entered this race because I believed I had the best chance of winning in November to work to turn things around and reverse trends that have only gotten worse over the past few months,” Meijer said in a statement.
“The harsh reality is that the fundamentals of racing have changed significantly since this campaign launched,” said Meijer, who had filed campaign petitions earlier in the week, added. “After careful consideration, I have today withdrawn my name from the primary ballot. Without a solid path to victory, continuing this campaign only increases the likelihood of a primary that would divide and distract from the essential objective: conservative victories in November.
Former representative. Mike Rogerswhich was approved by Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has in recent months consolidated GOP support ahead of August primaries that also include former Rep. Justin Amash, entrepreneur Sandy Pensler and physician Sherry O’Donnell. James Craig, a former Detroit police chief who was considered a leading contender for the nomination, withdrew from the race early and supported Rogers.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin is the favorite in a Democratic field that also includes actor Hill Harper and businessman Nasser Beydoun.
Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow is not run for a fourth term. His retirement has resulted in what is expected to be a competitive race in a presidential battleground.
Meijer, given his past criticism of Trump and his vote to impeach him after the January 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol, has always been seen as a long-shot opponent. Amash, another Trump critic whom Meijer succeeded in Congress, voted to impeach Trump in 2019.
But Meijer had sought to soften its stance on Trump, acknowledging in an interview with Politico last year that he was ready to vote for whoever the Republicans nominated for president in 2024. Trump gained enough delegates to obtain the nomination.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
