Team,

If there’s one thing that 2023 has already shown, it’s that our country is in need of Midwestern leadership.

Amidst a chaotic start to the 118th Congress (in which we went nearly a full week without a House of Representatives), Senator Debbie Stabenow announced that she would not be running for reelection in 2024. She embodies the thoughtful, pragmatic, and decent leadership that many have come to associate with the Midwest.

She talks to everyone, shows up in small towns and big cities alike, and is focused on results rather than rhetoric. Her leadership stands in stark contrast to what we’ve seen in the House over the past two weeks. Her retirement is a huge loss for Michigan.

Elissa has gotten a front row seat to Sen. Stabenow’s pragmatic approach. In fact, Elissa represents the same area of mid-Michigan that the Senator did back when she was a member of the House. Back in 2018, Elissa became the first Democrat to represent mid-Michigan in the House since Sen. Stabenow was elected to the Senate in 2000.

The Senator has been the leader in Michigan on how to win competitive races in a politically diverse state. And that’s why her announcement last week leaves such a big hole in Michigan politics.

If you support the Midwestern leadership Sen. Stabenow has brought to Michigan, chip in below. It’s vital we continue to elect leaders in Congress that know that mission-driven still matters.