Did Mike Rogers forget that Betsy DeVos is one of his campaign’s biggest donors?

Republican US Senate candidate Mike Rogers claims to be unfamiliar with billionaire Betsy DeVos’ agenda for public schools—even though her family has maxed out their political contributions on Rogers’ Senate campaign. 

MICHIGAN—Republican US Senate candidate and former Congressman Mike Rogers appeared visibly frustrated when Betsy DeVos’ name was mentioned during a debate this week.

The right-wing billionaire, who served as the US Secretary of Education under ex-President Donald Trump’s administration, is a controversial figure in Michigan politics—namely because she has spent much of her career supporting measures that would defund public schools. 

She’s also one of the biggest donors to Rogers’ Senate campaign, records show. 

So, when Rogers’ opponent, Democratic US Rep. Elissa Slotkin, named DeVos among Rogers’ “biggest supporters” at a debate on Monday night, Rogers was quick to get defensive. 

“My opponent likes to talk about everything other than what we’re talking about. Betsy DeVos? I’m not sure how that has anything to do with us trying to prove education for our kids,” he said.

DeVos and her family have spent decades donating to (and leading) a long list of organizations centered on instilling religion in education and privatizing education under the misleading banner of “school choice.” DeVos has also repeatedly clashed with Democratic lawmakers over just about every policy related to funding public education—including pushing for a voucher-like program that threatened to divert $500 million in tax revenues for Michigan’s public schools.

After her departure from the Trump administration, DeVos also garnered widespread criticism when she argued (like Project 2025 suggests) that the US Department of Education that she once led “should not exist” during a speech at an ultra-conservative Moms for Liberty summit.

A 2022 poll coordinated by Lake Effect and Progress Michigan also found that only about 8% of Michiganders have a favorable opinion of DeVos, while 50% have an unfavorable opinion. 

When DeVos’ name was mentioned during Monday’s debate, Rogers immediately tried to change the subject.

“But I will tell you this: In the last five years, [Slotkin] voted 100% [with] Biden-Harris,” he said.

Still, Slotkin pressed Rogers on his financial ties to the DeVos family—and what they could be expecting from him in return, should voters decide to elect Rogers to Congress in November.

“[Betsy DeVos] is very, very clear about her theory of education and that she literally wants to defund public schools. She was our Secretary of Education but now wants to get rid of the Secretary of Education position,” Slotkin said. “For me, I believe in strong public schools.”

In all, DeVos and her family have reportedly donated the maximum allowable political contributions to Rogers’ campaign. Recent financial disclosures show that DeVos gave Rogers’ campaign $3,300 for both the Senate primary and the general election, according to reports from Business Insider. Several other members of the DeVos family—including Betsy’s husband Dick—have also maxed out their donations to Rogers’ campaign, for a total of at least $46,200.

That doesn’t even account for the tens of millions of dollars that DeVos and her family have also donated to other political action committees this election cycle—including those that are designed to influence the outcome of the US Senate race, among others, in Michigan. 

“I think it’s pretty clear how Betsy DeVos is connected to education,” Slotkin said in response to Rogers’ latest remarks. “[She] and every member of her family have donated to you for years and years and years. So, it makes sense that you adopt her approach to education: Defunding public schools, demonizing public schools and public school teachers. I don’t believe in that.”

READ MORE: Elissa Slotkin calls out Mike Rogers’ voting record at fiery US Senate debate

For the latest Michigan news, follow The ‘Gander on Twitter.

Follow Political Correspondent Kyle Kaminski here.