DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Failed write-in Michigan gubernatorial candidate and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig is looking at running for another office – the soon-to-be open U.S. Senate Seat that Democrat Debbie Stabenow is vacating.

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After being in public service since 1974 and being Michigan’s first female U.S. Senator since 2001, 72-year-old Stabenow is retiring and has decided not to run for re-election to be a Michigan Senator in 2024.

Craig, 66, told the Detroit News that he’s been encouraged to run by party members and supporters in the state. He said, “I’ve giving some consideration to it. I’ve not made a decision, so I’m not going to say I’m going to do it.”

He told the Detroit News that he would only run if he thought he could win and make a difference. Craig said, “I’m going to continue to do my due diligence. I view myself as a people’s servant. I’m most passionate about serving people. And I think if you ascend to a role as a leader in politics, that shouldn’t change, and I just think that’s lacking today. Some politicians lose sight of who they represent.”

It remains to be seen what kind of support Craig would receive for a run to be senator. He was seen as a frontrunner early on but then he was disqualified from having his name on the ballot because of forged nominating signatures and was one of five candidates who didn’t make the primary ballot. Craig proceeded with a write-in campaign but he was only able to garner 23,521 write-in votes in the August primary election of 2022, according to the Michigan Secretary of State website. That accounted for only 2.14% of the votes cast for Republicans. In Wayne County, where Craig lives and served as police chief, he only received 4,411 votes, with a large number of those votes (239) coming from Grosse Pointe Woods, a ten minute drive from his home.

Craig told the Detroit News that he believes his strengths are in areas of education, the economy and crime. He will be speaking to more people in the state about what kind of Republican candidate they would like to have.

He said, “I’m going to continue to do my due diligence. I view myself as a people’s servant. I’m most passionate about serving people. And I think if you ascend to a role as a leader in politics, that shouldn’t change, and I just think that’s lacking today. Some politicians lose sight of who they represent.”

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Craig has no timeline in mind for making a decision on whether he will run – but he’s already got competition, both announced and unannounced. Coming out swinging for the Democrats is U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Lansing) who already announced her run in February. She’s raised about $3 million already for her campaign and has been endorsed by EMILY’s List, End Citizens United and Let America Vote. The Detroit News lists other potential Democrat candidates as actor Hill Harper of Detroit and businessman Nasser Beydoun of Dearborn.

On the Republican side, two individuals have announced their candidacy for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat: State Board of Education member Nikki Snyder of Dexter, and businessman Michael Hoover.

There is speculation about other potential candidates running on the Republican side including businessman and failed gubernatorial candidate Kevin Rinke, U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Twp), state Senator Ruth Johnson (R-Holly), former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids Twp) and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Holland).