Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig ends Michigan GOP Senate bid

Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig on Tuesday announced that he was ending his Michigan Senate bid.

Craig launched his bid as a Republican in October, pitting him against former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who had the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. They were later joined by former Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich.

The former police chief told the Associated Press that "[t]his is strictly a business decision... I’m not leaving because I felt like I didn’t have the support. But from a business end, you need funds to run a campaign."

Fundraising records revealed that Craig trailed his primary opponents by a significant margin in terms of finances. Whereas Rogers has raised more than $2 million, Craig brought in just over $60,000 by the end of 2023, per the AP.

The seat may present an opportunity for Republicans to notch a victory as incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow is not seeking re-election and the Wolverine State is broadly regarded as a battleground in the 2024 presidential election.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.