EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) showed no signs of backing down from exploring a run for Michigan’s open Senate seat in an interview Friday with the Washington Examiner, even as his potential entry is frustrating national Republicans who’ve already coalesced around former Rep. Mike Rogers.

President Donald Trump, who endorsed Rogers in his unsuccessful 2024 campaign against now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), has yet to weigh in on the 2026 race and has notably not stopped Huizenga from challenging the establishment’s preferred candidate.

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“I don’t want to speak for the president at all. Nobody does. Clearly, he is his own voice. I have not gotten any red lights from the president,” Huizenga, who spoke with Trump last week at West Point’s graduation ceremony, told the Washington Examiner.

Huizenga is forging ahead with a fundraiser next week headlined by longtime friend Sean Duffy, Trump’s transportation secretary and a former Wisconsin congressman, despite an uproar from Republican operatives who fear it’s the latest foreshadowing of a divisive — and expensive — primary battle that will include meddling from a Cabinet member.

The event is set to be held in the nation’s capital on Wednesday and fetch campaign contributions up to $5,000 per person. Huizenga and Duffy have a prior relationship from overlapping time in Congress and serving together on the Financial Services Committee.

“Our families know each other, our kids know each other, our wives know each other. Sean is one of my closest friends coming out of Congress. And I appreciate him helping me,” Huizenga said.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment about Duffy’s involvement in a battleground Senate race that Republicans thought would present a snoozer of a primary for Rogers. The move blindsided GOP campaign operatives. Huizenga said he’s not personally received blowback.

Rogers, a former congressman and chairman of the House’s Intelligence Committee, narrowly lost to Slotkin by just 0.3%, or less than 20,000 votes, to replace retired Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Next year’s election will be to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) in a toss-up contest that could allow Republicans to expand their Senate majority.

Despite the loss, national Republicans see Rogers as the most viable general election candidate based on polling, his past ties to Trump, and ability to fundraise. The Senate GOP’s campaign arm, known as the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and a McConnell-linked super PAC called the Senate Leadership Fund, are squarely behind Rogers. He’s also backed by a number of sitting GOP senators, including Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).  

However, Trump has not yet endorsed Rogers in his 2026 bid, even with the president’s former co-campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, as an advisor. The Washington Examiner reached out to Rogers’ campaign and the NRSC for comment.

Huizenga criticized those in the party who want the same candidate on the ballot but with a different result.

“Did Mike have an opportunity? Yes. He clearly came up short,” Huizenga said. “He had issues. I like Mike. I campaigned for Mike. I did rallies with Mike. But are we just going to run the same play and expect a different result? That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”

Saul Anuzis, the former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, offered accolades for Rogers and Huizenga while describing the intraparty dust-up unraveling in the Great Lakes State as an “embarrassment.”

“For Michigan, this is an embarrassment of riches. We have two strong candidates, either of which could win Michigan back for the Republicans,” Anuzis told the Washington Examiner. “I’ve known both candidates for several decades. They both have a solid base, are good campaigners, understand the political landscape and would serve Michigan well.”

Backers of Rogers and the NRSC’s early endorsement point to Trump’s past endorsement of the ex-congressman and former CNN host, and polling showing Rogers has the edge.

“Bill’s 50 points behind Mike. He should focus on helping the president pass his agenda, not manufacture distractions, work against the president, and help hand the House majority to the left,” one GOP consultant who advised past Senate races fumed.

On the Democratic side, a crowded primary field has already emerged, with potentially more to join. Current candidates include Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and state Rep. Joe Tate, who is the former speaker of the Michigan House.

In addition to setting the stage for a bitter primary in a cycle where several GOP incumbents are facing serious challengers from within, national Republicans fear that Huizenga mounting a Senate run could put his own relatively safe district into play for Democrats. House Democrats have already begun targeting the seat to potentially flip.

GOP operatives supporting Rogers say a Huizenga Senate bid would be a drain on party resources ahead of what will again likely be a tight race. A recent poll showed Rogers beating McMorrow and El-Sayed in hypothetical one-on-one matchups while losing to Stevens, albeit by just one point.

But there’s evidence Huizenga is ready to bring on key GOP campaign operatives, such as John Brabender, who handled Trump’s media operation, and a Republican who advises heavyweight Republican donors indicated money is available for him, should he get in the race.

“I think there’s a lot of people [who backed Mike Rogers in 2024] that were frustrated that he came up short, particularly with the president winning Michigan,” the Republican said. “And, so now, you fast forward to this new open seat. And a lot of the donors I’ve talked to are kind of scratching their head saying, ‘Well, if you didn’t win with Trump at the top of the ticket, what’s changed?'”

According to Huizenga, some in the White House “have expressed concern about where Michigan is in, kind of in general, and how my [House] seat fits into that.” Rep. John James (R-MI), who represents a swing district, is not seeking reelection and is instead running for governor, presenting House Republicans with the latest challenger to maintain their three-seat majority.

Huizenga brushed off concerns his district could flip, “especially if I’m on the ballot” for Senate.

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“What conceivable world would people in the Fourth congressional District come in and vote for me for Senate, but then not vote for whoever’s coming after me?” he said.

Rogers and Huizenga are likely to see one another on Saturday. They’re slated to attend a Lincoln Day dinner in southwest Michigan.

Naomi Lim contributed to this report.