MI-SEN: Former Michigan GOP co-chair appears poised to run for U.S. Senate against Mike Rogers

Bernadette Smith, the co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party who was elected this year along with current chair and state Sen. Jim Runestad of White Lake, has resigned from her post, the party confirmed on Friday — and with that has come rumors that she is gearing up to run for Michigan’s soon-to-be vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Republican political consultants told Michigan Advance that rumors about Smith resigning and running for the U.S. Senate have been growing for weeks. They said Smith has been informing top GOP members that she plans to run for the seat that will open when Sen. Gary Peters (D–Bloomfield Township) retires next year.

Both Jason Cabel Roe, of Roe Strategic LLC, as well as Dennis Lennox, who has worked in strategic communications over the past decade, as well as for high profile party events, told the Advance that they were privy to that speculation, as well.

A message seeking comment from Smith was not immediately returned.



https://michiganadvance.com/2025/11/07/former-michigan-gop-co-chair-appears-poised-to-run-for-u-s-senate-against-mike-rogers/