Cornerstone Schools founder Clark Durant is expected to officially enter the race for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination and the privilege of taking on incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing). The pending announcement certainly makes the race a little more interesting as former U.S. Representative Peter Hoekstra had previously, although briefly, been riding easy street to the nomination.
The unsuccessfully 1990 U.S. Senate candidate’s decision to enter the race would not have seemed a huge surprise, nor a significant challenge to Mr. Hoekstra, on its surface; however, Mr. Durant’s campaign already has some significant GOP power behind it.
Former U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham, Republican National Committeeman and former Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis and GOP heavyweight Betsy DeVos have all endorsed Mr. Durant’s campaign.
The early backing of these three GOP powerbrokers may make significant waves in the Republican ranks. Mr. Abraham is the only Republican from Michigan to win a seat in the U.S. Senate in more than thirty years, while Ms. DeVos will certainly increase Mr. Durant’s (a Grosse Point resident) presence on Michigan’s west-side.