LANSING, Michigan (WILX) – Control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate is up for grabs.
According to the Cook Political Report, the seats currently held by U.S. Reps. Dan Kildee (D) Flint and Elissa Slotkin (D) Holly are undecided and do not lean toward either major party.
Republicans and Democrats have narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans have 219 seats and the Democrats 212. In the Senate, the Democrats have a majority of 51 to 49.
Arnold Weinfeld, deputy director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, says Michigan voters could be the deciding factor in which party comes to power in November.
“Michigan will play a major role in determining the majority in the U.S. Senate, in Congress and, of course, in the presidential election campaign,” Weinfeld said.
U.S. Rep. Kildee and Senator Debbie Stabenow are both resigning. U.S. Rep. Slotkin is resigning her seat to replace Senator Stabenow. Democrats now hope that Senator Kristen McDonald-Rivet (D-Bay City) and Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. (D-Lansing) will take their seats in DC.
U.S. Rep. Kildee said her candidates would protect reproductive freedom and lower prescription drug costs.
“These are issues that are truly controversial, but the outcome of the election could be crucial,” said U.S. Rep. Kildee.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has listed Kildee’s seat as one of its targets for 2024. To capture the seat, Republicans have nominated Paul Junge, who previously challenged Kildee in 2022.
Republicans hope that former state Rep. Tom Barrett can take over Slotkin’s seat in Congress, while former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers hopes to capture Stabenow’s seat in the Senate.
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Pete Hoekstra said they are also keeping an eye on the race for U.S. Rep. Hilary Scholten’s (D) seat in Grand Rapids.
“If you are concerned about Michigan’s economic development and want to see a change in that direction, you have to vote Republican. Republicans will get Michigan’s economy back on track,” Hoekstra said.
Both parties say their candidates are confident about their positions now, just 85 days before the election.
“We’ve seen a real buildup of enthusiasm, and some recent polls show that a race that seemed out of reach for Democrats is now well underway,” said U.S. Rep. Kildee.
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