The Democrat field for U.S. Senate seats in 2024 is showing signs it will be wide open. On Thursday, four-term Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced she will not run for reelection in 2024.
Stabenow is one of several notables not expected to run in 2024 — the others being Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Angus King (I-ME).
Stabenow currently serves as chairwoman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. She announced her retirement plans in a statement on Twitter:
“Inspired by a new generation of leaders, I have decided to pass the torch in the U.S. Senate. I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election and will leave the U.S. Senate at the end of my term on January 3, 2025.”
Stabenow added: “For the next two years, I am intensely focused on continuing this important work to improve the lives of Michiganders. This includes leading the passage of the next five-year Farm Bill which determines our nation’s food and agriculture policies.”
In 2018, Stabenow won her fourth term by a strong 6.5 percentage points.
Republicans hope to flip the seat in 2024; however, Michigan seems to be solidly blue as Democrats swept the midterms in November.
Wins were noted for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Rep. Hillary Scholten.
The Associated Press reported that for the first time since 1983, Democrats in Michigan controlled the office of governor and House and Senate chambers.
Thirty-three Senate seats are up for grabs in 2024 — 23 are currently held by Democrats.
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