GOP businessman Sandy Pensler joins crowded field of Senate candidates in Michigan

LANSING, MI — Detroit-area businessman Sandy Pensler launched his second campaign for U.S. Senate on Friday, joining nearly a dozen other Republican candidates in Michigan who hope to flip the open seat for the first time in more than two decades.

Pensler lost the 2018 Republican primary for Senate by more than 9 percentage points to current U.S. Rep. John James, who would lose to incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Pensler put millions into his primary bid at the time.

“The American experiment is in big trouble. It is burning,” Pensler said in the campaign video on Friday. “I believe we can turn the tide, but we must apply basic morality, take responsibility and fight hard.”

Pensler joins a crowded field of Republican candidates, including former U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers and Peter Meijer and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig. Republicans are vying for a seat that has been held by Democrats since 2001 but will be vacated by Stabenow, who retires at the end of next year.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin has led a field of Democratic candidates that also includes actor Hill Harper. Slotkin had nearly $4 million more in the bank than any other Senate candidate through September, according to campaign finance figures released in October.

Pensler owns Pensler Capital, an investment group, and The Korex Cos., which produces laundry detergents and cleaning products. In 2018, Pensler said he contributed nearly $5 million of his own money to jump-start his campaign.

In his campaign video posted to social media, Pensler said it was time to “take back the Senate from the idiots.”

Former President Donald Trump's potential support in the Senate race could have a major impact in a state he won in 2016. Trump endorsed James over Pensler in 2018.