Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow’s retirement sets up fierce 2024 Senate contest

The vacancy will make Michigan's Senate seat one of the most competitive in the nation, as Republicans vie for more control

Michigan senator Debbie Stabenow, a member of the Democratic leadership, announced on Thursday that she would not seek re-election in 2024, setting the stage for a fierce contest to claim an open seat in a critical midwestern battleground state.

Stabenow, 72, is the first Senate Democrat to announce her retirement ahead of 2024, when the party will try to defend its razor-thin majority by fending off challenges to incumbents in several states that former president Donald Trump won.