Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPAC has endorsed Mike Rogers, former Michigan Representative (R), over Elissa slotkin (D) in the race for Michigan Senate.

Since 2006, the Michigan Farm Bureau hasn’t endorsed a Republican candidate for the Senate. It had backed retiring Senator Debbie Stabenow in both her 2012 and 2018 Senate campaigns.

Rogers stated in a press release that he was “honored and grateful” to have received the endorsement from AgriPac, and the Michigan farmers who are the backbone of the Michigan economy and feed the nation.

The Michigan Republican continues:

Michigan farmers are suffering under the current administration, with rising input prices and heavy government regulations. We are now importing more food that we export for the first ever time in American History. Michigan’s senator, I will always be there for our farmers. I will fight to reduce costs, cut unnecessary regulations and pass the Farm Bill so that farmers can thrive, leave a legacy and feed the rest of the world.

According to the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Economy, agriculture in Michigan is among the top three industries and accounts for more than $100 billion of the state’s GDP.

The Michigan GOP strategist Jason Roe called the endorsement “pretty darn significant.”

Slotkin is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, and Debbie Stabenow is the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Roe said, “I imagine that they’re both pretty pissed about this decision.”

Slotkin was backed by Stabenow, who had been pushing for Slotkin to be backed by the Farm Bureau.

Stabenow, Fox News Digital: “That was disappointing.”

The Farm Bureau has always endorsed the Republican. “The only exception is Debbie Stabenow, because she’s the chair of [the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry]”, Democrat Senate Committee Chair Gary Peters, D-MI, told reporters.

Peters said, “They’re basically an extension of Republican Party.”

Rogers denied Peters’ claim, saying “You insulted the second largest industry in the State.” It’s a very thorough process and I think he hasn’t been to many farms in the last few years.

Slotkin and Rogers are now in a tighter race than ever before.

According to a recent Marist poll, Slotkin defeated Rogers by 6 percent among registered voters.