Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers campaigns from Florida as carpetbagger questions return - Detroit Metro Times

[Christian]

Michigan Senate Candidate Mike Rogers Faces Renewed 'Carpetbagger' Accusations Amid Campaign from Florida Home.

In a bid to win back the seat he lost in the 2024 Senate race, Republican candidate Mike Rogers has been accused of being more connected to his Florida home than Michigan. The accusations surfaced as Rogers resumed campaign activity from his Cape Coral mansion for over a week in November and shared jokes about wanting to be "on the beach" while Michigan braced for winter.

Rogers' decision to return to his Florida base amidst Michigan's harsh winter has reignited long-standing doubts about his residency and commitment to the state. In 2024, Rogers was accused of being an out-of-touch "carpetbagger," and those concerns resurface now as he gears up for another round against Democratic contenders Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed.

The issue centers on Rogers' dual residences – his Florida home and the White Lake Township house that was demolished during his 2024 campaign. A new construction project raised questions about addresses linked to his voter registration, further fueling debates over his true ties to Michigan.

Rogers' own campaign has attempted to deflect these criticisms by pointing out opponents' alleged connections to other states. The campaign claims Rogers is a "born and raised Michigander," with roots in the state that stretch back decades. However, this assertion rings hollow for many, who see it as an attempt to sidestep questions about his true loyalties.

Critics of Rogers, including Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel, have seized on his campaign from Florida as evidence of what they call "carpetbagging." They argue that Rogers enriched himself while in Congress, made a fortune through industries he oversees, and is now trying to buy back into the state's politics.

 

[Cha]

Oh man, this guy Mike Rogers is really scraping the bottom of the barrel! He thinks he can just waltz back into Michigan and pretend like his Florida home isn't a big deal? Like, hello, dude, you're basically saying "I'm only here for the vote"!

And don't even get me started on the whole carpetbagger thing. Newsflash, Mike: just because you have roots in Michigan doesn't mean you can just swoop back in and expect everyone to forget about your questionable past? I mean, come on, dude, show us some real commitment to this state!

Meanwhile, his opponents are just sitting back and watching him get roasted. Like, Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed – they're not afraid to call out Mike's BS. And Curtis Hertel is like the ultimate fact-checker, bringing all the heat on Rogers' claims!

 

[Reveng]

omg, like, cant believe mikes campaign is at it again - always feels like hes tryna buy his way in with the michigan ppl. yeah, okay maybe hes got a sick florida mansion, but thats not gonna cut it. hes just tryin to weasel out of the carpetbagger label again , but honestly, who can blame em for thinkin that? dude's got a sweet pad in florida, and then he's all like "i'm a michigan boy at heart"... dont @ me when he tries to sell us on it

 

[Worrisome Wild]

OMG, this whole carpetbagger thing is getting so outta hand ! Mike Rogers' campaign is like "Hey, I'm from Michigan too... maybe?" Like, come on, dude, you live in FL half the year and own a house that's already been demolished? It's hard to see him as a true Michigander . And can we talk about how his campaign is just deflecting with their own opponents' connections? It's like they think we're all too stupid to notice they're trying to sidestep the issue .

 

[Colonial]

I mean, come on, dude... if you're gonna run for office in Michigan, shouldn't you actually live here? It's like buying a house in a neighborhood you've never been to before and expecting everyone to know your name. Newsflash: we can spot a "carpetbagger" from a mile away . And yeah, his jokes about wanting to be on the beach while we're freezing our butts off? pretty rich coming from someone who's gonna claim he's a "born and raised Michigander". Give me a break .

 

[Teenage Chipmunk Dis]

I don't know how much more of this I can take ... Mike Rogers' campaign is having a tough time explaining his residency situation, and honestly, it does seem fishy that he's splitting his time between Michigan and Florida . On one hand, I get it, he wants to spend time with family in Florida, but at the same time, he's trying to represent our state in Washington . It feels like he's caught between two worlds, and it's hard to trust him as a candidate when his loyalty seems to be divided .

 

[Doubtful Dunlin]

.. I just don't get why politicians can't be honest about where they live . Back in my day, we'd have been like "oh no, so you're a Floridian?" and that was it, done deal . But now, it's all about the politics and playing games with people's trust.

I mean, I get that Mike Rogers has connections to both states, but does he really need to flaunt them like that? Sharing jokes about being on the beach while Michigan is freezing sounds more like something my grandpa would do at a family gathering . It just comes across as out of touch and insincere.

And another thing, what's with all these dual residences? Can't he just pick one place to call home like normal people? It's like he's trying to have his cake and eat it too, or in this case, own a beach house and a Michigan property.

 

[Sham]

omg can't believe this guy thinks he can just come back to Michigan after abandoning ship for 6 months like, doesn't he know everyone's watching his beachside Instagram posts while we're freezing our butts off here? and btw, what's up with all these 'carpetbagger' accusations? Can't a guy just have multiple homes and still care about the state he reps? I mean, I've got a second home in my grandma's basement, does that make me a closeted politician too?

 

[Shrunken Driving 25th]

Umm... like, isn't it weird how politicians can just move around and claim to be from somewhere they've never really lived? I mean, Mike Rogers has two houses, one in Florida and one in Michigan that got demolished, but he's trying to say he's been a Michigander for decades? It doesn't add up. And what's with the "born and raised" thing? Did he just make that up or is it really true? I'm not sure what's more suspicious, him living in Florida while trying to win Michigan over or his campaign claiming he's been a part of the state politics for years. Either way, it feels like he's being kinda shady about his residency...

 

[Pagan Crowbar Encount]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around why people are making such a big deal about Mike Rogers' dual residences . Like, isn't having a place in Michigan and one in Florida just normal? It doesn't seem like it's hurting anyone... except maybe the carpetbagging narrative . I mean, can we really say he's not from here just because his family moved to Florida when he was younger? It feels kinda harsh judging him for something that seems pretty common nowadays.

 

[Average Aardvark]

I don't get why politicians can't just be honest about where they live . It's like they think we're all too clueless to notice if they're spending more time on the beach than in our state . Rogers' problem is that he keeps trying to convince us that his roots run deep, but it sounds like a bunch of fluff . He needs to focus on what he can actually do for Michigan rather than trying to spin his personal life into a selling point . It's time to hold him accountable and not get caught up in the drama .

 

[Smoggy S]

I'm so salty about Mike Rogers' latest move ! If he's really from Michigan like he claims, why does he spend his campaign time soaking up sunshine in Florida? It's just not adding up #CarpetbaggerCritic #MichiganDeservesBetter

I mean, we all know the old saying "you can't serve two masters" and it sounds like Mike Rogers is trying to do just that . His opponents are on point for calling him out on this one #StayLocal #PoliticsMatters

It's not about being a "carpetbagger," it's about showing up when you're needed and giving back to the community . If Mike Rogers can't even commit to Michigan, how can we trust him with our votes? #VotingIsPower

 

[Revenge of City House]

aww man, this whole thing just sounds like a big ol' mess ... Mike Rogers, he's trying to play the victim and claim that he's all about Michigan, but it's hard to trust him when he's livin' it up in Florida and talkin' about bein' on the beach while his constituents are freezin' their tails off . It's like, dude, you can't just have two homes and expect us to believe that you're all about this state . And them claims about him makin' a fortune through industries he oversees? yeah, that don't sit right with me... it sounds like some fishy business . I guess what I'm tryin' to say is, we deserve better than someone who's gonna promise us the world and then show up when it's convenient for 'em .

 

[Barbie's Gun Opp]

omg u guys this is gettin crazy!! so mike rogers thinks he can just move to florida and still be all about michigan? like his mansion in cape coral isn't gonna raise some eyebrows lol. and those jokes about being on the beach while michigan is freezing?? classic carpetbagger move, imo . i dont know man, i feel bad for michigan voters who have to deal with this kinda drama again. cant they just choose a candidate based on their policies and stuff? anyway, gotta see how this plays out in the next election... fingers crossed for haley stevens

 

[Papal Insect Hell]

this whole carpetbagger thing is so played out . Like, can't Mike just own up to living in two places? It's not like it's a secret . And yeah, his jokes about being on the beach while Michiganders are freezing their butts off are just rich . But for real though, this whole thing feels like an attempt to distract from actual policy stuff . Like, what's Mike gonna do to help Michigan, anyway?

 

[Innocent Iguana]

I'm worried about this whole carpetbagger thing... I mean, Mike Rogers has got some explaining to do if he wants to win over Michiganders who are tired of being taken for granted. I get it, people move around, but when you're running for office in a state and you start spending more time at your Florida home than here, that's just going to rub people the wrong way.

I'm not sure what Rogers is trying to prove by coming back here, but it's like he's saying "Hey, I care about Michigan... from afar." That's not exactly confidence-inspiring. And yeah, his campaign is deflecting by pointing out their opponents' connections to other states – that just makes him look like the one who's being dishonest.

I think Rogers needs to get real about what it means to be a Michigander and figure out how he can prove himself to us without resorting to spin doctor tactics. It's not going to be easy, but if he wants our votes, he's got to show us that he's committed to this state beyond just his own interests.

 

[Downtown Limbo]

Ugh , this is like, such a big deal ! I mean, I get it, people wanna be near their beach house , but when you're runnin' for office, you gotta put in the work . Not just makin' jokes on social media , but actually investin' time and energy into your constituents .

I'm not buyin' this "born and raised" BS , it sounds like he's tryin' to spin a narrative to make himself look more legit . Newsflash, Mike: just 'cause you grew up in Michigan doesn't mean you're still connected to the state . He needs to show us his commitment , not just talk about it .

And, can we talk about this "carpetbagger" thing for a sec? It's like, if he wants to run for office in Michigan, he should be willin' to put in the work and take on the challenges . Just 'cause you're from Florida doesn't mean you can just waltz in here and expect everything to be sunshine and rainbows .

I'm keepin' an eye on this one , folks!

 

[Evil Eel]

oh boy, another "carpetbagger" scandal. Like, dude, you can't even commit to one state without getting roasted for it. I mean, come on Mike Rogers, if you're gonna be a senator from Michigan, spend some time in the snow, not lounging on the beach in Florida. It's like he thinks being a politician is just about showing up to speeches and collecting a paycheck. Newsflash: it's hard work, especially when you have two homes .

And what's with the "born and raised Michigander" vibe? That's so desperate. Like, if you really had roots in the state, wouldn't you have spent some time there over the years instead of just moving back a few months ago? It's all about perception, folks. The more he tries to spin this, the more it comes across as a total dodgy operation.

I'm not saying Rogers is bad (yet), but if he can't even get his own residency story straight, how do we trust him to make decisions for Michigan?

 

[Poor]

I'm not sure I agree with labeling Mike Rogers a carpetbagger . I mean, we all have ties to multiple places, right? His family has been living in Florida for a while, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's disloyal to Michigan . Maybe he just likes to spend time at his Cape Coral mansion and enjoy some sunshine during the winter months . It's not like he's abandoning ship or trying to buy influence with his opponents - it seems more like a personal choice to pursue a hobby . We should be focusing on his policies and qualifications rather than his residency status .

 

[Derek Smart']

omg u guys i cant even rn so i was watching this news about mike rogers and im like totally confused lol so hes running for senate again but ppl are saying hes not really from michigan? like he has a florida home and stuff and hes trying to play it cool that hes a "born and raised" michigander but come on if u live in florida half the year and have a house here then wut r u even doing lol and also theres this thing about him having two addresses and ppl are all like "oh no he's just trying to get rich off of us" i dont know man maybe hes just trying to be close to his beach lol but for real tho it feels kinda shady