“Hune would have to give up his seat to run, however.”
Yeah, Hune’s Senate seat is up in 2014. But Hune might be willing to risk it, since (i) it would be his last term in the MI legislature anyhow (he already served 8 years in the state house and if reelected to the state senate in 2014 he’ll reach his two-term limit there as well), and (ii) if a Republican wins the MI-08 seat in November (which is the likeliest scenario, particularly since Democrat hottie Gretchen Whitmer almost certainly will pass up a run, as she has prior entreaties to go to Washington or even to run statewide), it may not open up again for a while, and Hune would then have to risk a statewide run if he wants to stay in elective office. Given that Hune first got elected to the state house at age 21 and has been in elective office ever since, I have to assume that he’s very ambitious and would be hard-pressed to pass up this opportunity, even if he has to face Valde Garcia or another top-tier Republican in the primary.
Politics1 at last check doesn’t have Garcia or Hune listed as potential candidates, but they did add these three names as speculative:
Mike Bishop (R) - Ex-State Senate Majority Leader, Ex-State Rep., Attorney & ‘12 Oakland County Prosecutor Nominee
Craig DeRoche (R) - Ex-State House Speaker, Ex-Novi City Councilman & Religious Right Activist
Barb Byrum (D) - Ingham County Clerk, Ex-State Rep. & Hardware Store Owner
Already running against Rogers are two desultory Dem candidates:
Ken Darga (D) - Retired State Demographer & Economist
Susan Grettenberger (D) - College Professor & Social Worker