U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan announced on Thursday that she will not seek re-election in 2024. Stabenow, 72, has been a member of the U.S. Senate since 2001 and currently serves as chairman of the Agriculture Committee and the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.
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Background
Stabenow is the first woman to be elected as a U.S. Senator from Michigan, winning her seat in 2000 by defeating Republican incumbent Spencer Abraham. Since then, she has been re-elected three times and has become a member of Democratic leadership in the Senate.
Reason for Departure
Stabenow did not give a specific reason for her decision to leave the Senate but stated that she is looking forward to spending more time with her family, including her 96-year-old mother. In a news release, Stabenow said, “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.”
Successor
The announcement of Stabenow’s departure from the U.S. Senate is expected to trigger speculation about who will seek to succeed her. The last time there was an open Senate seat in Michigan was in 2014, when Democrat Gary Peters was elected to replace the late Senator Carl Levin. It is not yet clear whether Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who recently began her second term, may be interested in the position.
Political Party
Michigan has not had a Republican U.S. Senator since Robert Griffin lost to Carl Levin in 1978. However, national Republicans have stated their intention to compete for Stabenow’s seat in the next election. Mike Berg, Communications Director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said, “Senate Democrats don’t even have a campaign chair yet and they are already dealing with a major retirement. We are going to aggressively target this seat in 2024.”
Recent Reelection and Legislative Accomplishments
Stabenow was most recently reelected in 2018, defeating Republican businessman John James. During her time in the Senate, she has authored 179 pieces of legislation that have been signed into law, including securing over $1 billion in federal funding for mental health services through Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics across the U.S. and in Michigan.
Focus on Important Work
Stabenow stated that for the next two years, she is focused on continuing her work to improve the lives of Michiganders. This includes leading the passage of the next five-year Farm Bill, which determines U.S. food and agriculture policies, and protecting land and water and creating jobs in rural and urban communities.
Political Savvy and Work Ethic
Throughout her career, Stabenow has demonstrated a strong ability to combine political skill with a hardworking attitude. She has led efforts to prevent Canadian trash from filling Michigan landfills, advocated for stronger rules requiring the U.S. government to purchase American-made products, and called for funding to complete a new navigation lock in the upper Great Lakes and to stop the spread of invasive Asian carp into Lake Michigan. In 2008, when the U.S. Senate refused to provide $14 billion in aid to Detroit’s struggling automakers, Stabenow strongly criticized Republicans who demanded concessions from the United Auto Workers union in return.
Legislative Accomplishments
As a reliable Democratic vote and union supporter, Stabenow has still managed to negotiate with Republicans on legislation, particularly the farm bill, which is typically passed every five years and covers a wide range of rules related to trade, commodity support, and nutrition programs. She has also played key roles in securing aid to address lead contamination in Flint’s water supply and releasing billions of dollars for Detroit and other cities to address blight. Stabenow’s opponents, including James, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, and former U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra, have learned that she is formidable in politics despite her friendly demeanor.
Personal Background
Stabenow was born in Gladwin and raised in Clare, Michigan. Her father owned an Oldsmobile dealership and her mother was the director of nursing at a local hospital. After earning degrees in social work from Michigan State University, she worked with public school students before becoming involved in a campaign to prevent the closure of a nursing home, which motivated her to run for office. She was first elected to the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, then served 12 years in the state House and four years in the State Senate.
In 1994, she ran in the Democratic primary to challenge Governor John Engler but lost the nomination to Representative Howard Wolpe, who then lost to Engler. Stabenow went on to defeat Representative Dick Chrysler in 1996 and served two two-year terms in the U.S. House before being elected to the Senate.
