’Small, petty politics’ won’t fix US issues, ex-GOP congressman says as he mulls 2024 bid
Mike Rogers has yet to decide whether he’ll jump into the Republican presidential race.
But if the former Michigan Congressman does, he says he wants his campaign to be about “solutions,” not “petty politics.”
A problem for Rogers? As he’s trekked across South Carolina, most of his events have largely been under the radar. Pollsters aren’t even asking respondents if they support him.
Rogers was a late addition to the March Vision ‘24 Conference in North Charleston, a forum where conservatives heard from potential and declared presidential candidates, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Rogers’ last trip to South Carolina in April included private meetings with Republican groups and staff at the state Department of Corrections to discuss ways to improve literacy levels.
“Our goal here is to get to meet people you know who have voices in the party here,” said Rogers, who told The State in an April 21 interview he also met with a group of women interested in education issues. “South Carolina is unique. It has two high-profile state candidates, and so we have been meeting with people who might be attracted to a different kind of message.”
Rogers, a former Michigan congressman who now lives in Florida, has made several visits to early primary states, including five to South Carolina as he considers whether to launch a White House bid. Rogers served in the U.S. House for seven terms, from 2001 through 2015, including four years as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
“We’re kicking tires,” said Rogers, who plans to make a 2024 decision in the summer.
The current Republican field includes former President Donald Trump, Haley, Hutchinson and Ramaswamy.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez are all considering runs. U.S. Sen Tim Scott, who launched an exploratory committee in April, will announce his plans May 22.
“I think Mike Rogers is trying to do everything he can to raise his name ID,” said South Carolina Republican strategist Dave Wilson. “When you throw your name into the proverbial ring of South Carolina politics at the presidential level, you’re trying to build that name identification.”
Wilson said Rogers’ background could land him a role in a future Republican administration, such as with intelligence leadership.
If he makes a run, Rogers said he would seek to be in the “solutions-oriented” lane.
To reporters he touts his experience in technology-based businesses, including working as board chairman of the MITRE Corporation, which focuses on cybersecurity and aerospace.
He also founded a 501(c)4 called Leadership to Ensure the American Dream and increasing literacy is one of the issues he focuses on. During his recent trip to South Carolina he exchanged ideas with state prison personnel on how to help prisoners improve reading ability.
“There’s candidates that go in with a lot of flash and bang, and talk to Washington, D.C.,” Rogers said. “It’s not my style. So I want to get to know the folks of South Carolina, of Iowa, of New Hampshire, and then if through those conversations get me invited back, that’s the sign to me that we’re getting some traction, and so we’ve been getting invited back.”
Rogers said he sees an opportunity to gain some presidential traction despite Trump and DeSantis receiving most of the headlines. He said the political theater of a “fistfight” on a debate stage won’t be helpful to the country.
“You have the two big elephants in the grass fighting each other. That leaves a lot of room on the field to actually go out and do real campaign work,” Rogers said.
Rogers said presidential candidates will have an opportunity to show their differences, but said he believes the country is ready to move on from Trump.
Trump remains popular among South Carolina Republicans. He won the state in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. The latest Winthrop University Poll found the former president leading with 41% of the S.C. GOP support.
“Trump last time won on this kind of personality cult, if you will, than how he was addressing things. And I guess I’m not sure voters are gonna do that again. They might, but I’m not sure they are,” Rogers said. “Americans know something’s wrong, and they know that small and petty politics that you see today, is not going to fix it. So I think there’s a lane for someone who is both sober and solution-minded and optimistic about how we get there with innovation.”
