Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin failed to secure a key endorsement from the Detroit chamber of commerce—her second big endorsement snub as polls show Republicans gaining ground in the swing state.
The Detroit Regional Chamber—which has backed a Democratic candidate in that Senate seat for the past 18 years—announced it decided not to endorse any candidate in the race. The group said Slotkin and her Republican challenger, Mike Rogers, are both "strong candidates who would serve Michigan well."
This is the second high-profile endorsement that Slotkin, who currently serves in the U.S. House, failed to secure in recent weeks. Last month, the Michigan Farm Bureau announced it was backing Rogers in the race, the first time in nearly two decades that the group endorsed a Republican for that seat.
The news comes as Democrats face political headwinds in Michigan, a crucial swing state that could determine the presidential election and party control of the Senate.
Former president Donald Trump has been gaining ground against Vice President Kamala Harris, with multiple polls in the past week showing the candidates tied in the state.
Slotkin expressed concern about the tightening race, telling donors in a phone call last week that her campaign’s internal polling showed Harris "underwater" in Michigan, according to Axios.
"I'm not feeling my best right now about where we are on Kamala Harris in a place like Michigan," Slotkin reportedly told supporters.
Prior to this year, the Detroit Regional Chamber backed Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow—who announced her retirement last year—in every election since 2006.
A spokesman for Slotkin didn't respond to a request for comment.
Maggie Aboud, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said it was "not surprising Elissa Slotkin isn't securing key endorsements because she consistently lies to Michiganders about where she lives, owning a small business, and being a farmer."
The Detroit chamber has been active for over 100 years, making it one of the oldest business groups in the country, and calls itself the "voice of business in the 11-county Southeast Michigan Region," according to its website.
"Regardless of who gets elected in November, the Chamber will be pleased to work with either [candidate]," the Detroit chamber said in a statement, adding that it extensively interviewed both Slotkin and Rogers and examined their policy platforms.
The non-endorsement was a deviation from the group’s past decisions. The Detroit chamber has supported Slotkin in her past two House elections.
While Slotkin has been polling with a small, single-digit lead for much of the race, there are indications that her advantage is dwindling. A survey last week by the Trafalgar Group showed Slotkin and Rogers polling neck-and-neck. The Senate race is one of the most competitive in the country and could decide which party wins the majority in the upper chamber next year.
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