Upper Peninsula GOP Lawmakers Rescind Support for Rep. Jack Bergman After Beau LaFave Endorsement in Michigan Senate District 38 Race

Key Facts

• Issue: Michigan Senate District 38 (SD-38) Republican primary (Upper Peninsula).
• Trigger: Rep. Jack Bergman endorsed Beau LaFave for SD-38.
• Action: McBroom, Markkanen, and Bohnak say they rescinded their endorsement of Bergman.
• They back: Rep. Dave Prestin for SD-38 (per the press release).
• Filed GOP candidates (SD-38): Beau LaFave, Dave Prestin, Kayla Wikstrom.
• Status note: As of publication, no public response from Bergman’s office to the rescission was located.

What Happened in Michigan Senate District 38

On February 17, 2026, the Committee to Elect Ed McBroom for State Senate released a statement saying that State Sen. Ed McBroom and U.P. Reps. Greg Markkanen and Karl Bohnak rescinded their endorsement of U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman after Bergman endorsed Beau LaFave in the Republican primary for Michigan’s 38th State Senate District (SD-38).

The statement frames the dispute as both a political break and a question of regional representation in the Upper Peninsula. It also includes allegations concerning internal party conflict, campaign operations, and consulting relationships. The press release images and full text are included below for transparency.

Who Is Running for Michigan Senate District 38 (SD-38)

As of this publication, the Republican primary field for SD-38 includes the following filed candidates:

Campaign finance: Michigan committee filings and expenditure reports can be searched through the state’s campaign finance portal (MiTN).

What the Press Release Alleges

1) McBroom says Bergman promised not to endorse in the SD-38 race

In the statement, McBroom asserts Bergman told him he would not endorse in the SD-38 Republican primary, and that Bergman later reversed course by endorsing LaFave.

2) McBroom alleges a consulting relationship tied to Bergman’s chief of staff

McBroom further alleges that LaFave “hired” consulting services associated with Bergman’s chief of staff and asserts a pattern of endorsements connected to that relationship. This allegation is contained in the press release text reproduced below.

3) Markkanen and Bohnak frame the dispute as a U.P. representation issue

The statement argues that Upper Peninsula lawmakers should not be bypassed on major regional political decisions, and it ties the endorsement dispute to broader concerns about local priorities and policy impacts on U.P. communities.

Policy Context: Energy Law, Industry, and the Upper Peninsula

The press release references the “energy law passed in 2023” and argues it represents a significant threat to the U.P.’s future. It links that policy debate to concerns about industrial competitiveness, ratepayer costs, and the long-term health of heritage industries such as mining and forestry.

Why This Matters

• Rare public fracture: Public breaks between a sitting member of Congress and a region’s state-level GOP leadership are unusual.
• Clear alignment split: Bergman backs LaFave; the U.P. legislative delegation backs Prestin (per the press release).
• Race dynamics: Endorsements, consulting/vendor relationships, fundraising, and outside influence are likely to become central campaign issues in SD-38.
• Long-run significance: SD-38 is a marquee Upper Peninsula seat and will shape Lansing’s U.P. representation for the next term.

Timeline

• 2022: McBroom was last elected (press release states 63% of the vote).
• Oct–Dec 2025: SD-38 Republican candidates file (LaFave, Wikstrom, Prestin).
• Feb. 17, 2026: McBroom, Markkanen, and Bohnak release statement rescinding their endorsement of Bergman and reaffirming support for Prestin.
• Aug. 4, 2026: Primary election date (Michigan).

What to Watch Next in the MI-38 (SD-38) GOP Primary

• Any public response from Rep. Jack Bergman or his office addressing the rescission.
• Any public statement from, Dave Prestin, or Kayla Wikstrom on the dispute.
• Additional statements from Beau LaFave.
• Campaign finance filings that clarify vendor/consulting relationships referenced in the press release.
• Additional endorsements, fundraising disclosures, or independent expenditures in SD-38.

Press Release Images

The two-page press release is shown below.

Full Text of Press Release (February 17, 2026)

The following is the full text of the press release as shown in the images above.

U.P. Lawmakers Rescind Support for Congressman Bergman Following
Senate Endorsement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       Contact: mcbroom4senate@gmail.com
February 17, 2026

Upper Peninsula, MI — State Senator Ed McBroom and U.P. Representatives Greg Markkanen and Karl Bohnak today rescinded their endorsement of Congressman Jack Bergman after he released an endorsement of Beau LaFave in the 38th Senate district and he and his staff began personally attacking the current U.P. Team of state lawmakers. The 38th Senate seat is currently held by Sen. McBroom, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. McBroom was last elected in 2022 with 63 percent of the vote.

“Jack promised me he would not be endorsing in this race. I wish I could say I’m surprised that he lied to me or that this is out of character for my time working with Jack, but it’s not,” McBroom said. “I’ve seen him be disloyal to local party members, interfere in races outside his district, stab fellow Republicans in the back, and even publicly attack me. Those were internal party matters. This time is different. This time, he straight up lied to me. Now he’s siding against the clear, best option for the U.P. I will not stand by silently while he undermines the work we have done for the U.P.”

“Even more disturbing is that Beau just hired Jack’s chief-of-staff’s consulting services. Jack has a clear history of automatically endorsing Tony’s clients, helping his own employee’s personal business,” said McBroom. “Regardless, I will not be voting for Jack again. He said he wanted our endorsements last summer but it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t want them now.”

Bergman was recruited by downstate Republicans to challenge lifelong U.P. resident Tom Casperson in the 2016 congressional race. At the time, Bergman was largely unknown across the region and lived much of the time in Louisiana.

“For years, Congressman Bergman has been criticized for being absent from the U.P.,” said Markkanen. “This only reinforces that concern. He never contacted any of us to understand why we chose to endorse Rep. Dave Prestin. That decision was made carefully by us who live here and have worked with both candidates for years. Dave has the experience, commitment, and understanding the U.P. needs right now. He has worked as a first responder, owned a small business, and served on community boards across the region while raising his daughter with his wife of more than 25 years. Building a community while raising a family is no small task. Dave knows what real life is like up here.”

“The Upper Peninsula is facing the greatest threat to its future we have ever seen with the energy law passed in 2023,” Bohnak said. “Dave Prestin’s leadership and policy knowledge are critical as environmental extremists and anti-mining, anti-forestry, and anti-labor forces work against our heritage industries and everyday ratepayers. You would think the Congressman might ask those of us in Lansing why we support Prestin before backing someone else and trashing us. Instead, this is just another example of his disconnect from what’s actually happening in the U.P.”

“We need a congressman who listens to the people who live here and understands what’s at stake,” Markkanen added. “Not someone who drops in for carefully staged public appearances.”

“A handful of wins over ten years and token constituent service will not amount to much of a legacy if our mines and mills are shut down by crushing energy costs,” Bohnak said. “Our people need fighters, and they need the chance to earn a good living.”

Dave Prestin, who is running for the 38th Senate seat to succeed McBroom, welcomed the lawmakers’ support.

“I am deeply grateful for the full support of the U.P. legislative team,” Prestin said. “Unity is essential to the Upper Peninsula’s survival and our ability to push back against forces in Lansing and Washington that don’t understand our way of life. I never sought Congressman Bergman’s endorsement. I want the support of people who live here, work here, and know what’s happening in the U.P. For me, this race is about peninsula over party.”

McBroom, Markkanen, and Bohnak endorsed Prestin in October. In addition to these endorsements, Prestin has been endorsed by residents across the U.P. including Diane Casperson, wife of the late Sen. Tom Casperson.

Paid for by Committee to Elect Ed McBroom for State Senate — N470 Thaler Dr., Vulcan, MI 49892
      

UPDATE: Beau LaFave Strikes Back

Following the release of the McBroom/Markkanen/Bohnak statement, the gloves are off in the fight for MI-38.

LaFave sent Jordyn Hermani from Bridge MI this message in response to her reporting:

"In my recommendation letter for law school, Sen Ed McBroom said I have an uncanny ability to predict the future six months before anyone else he knows. So his backstabbing both me and the Congressman today came as no surprise."

"I gave 12+ years of my young adult life supporting Ed McBroom and the UP legislative team in Lansing. Unfortunately, that wasn’t good enough for them. I was fired by Greg Markkanen for not endorsing their favorite candidate: a former Chicago Nightclub owner who plead guilty to domestic battery after beating his wife for years. Beating women wasn’t exactly the 'U.P. Values' I had assumed Ed and Greg were talking about."

"The choice between my opponent and I has never been more clear. While Lansing’s favorite politicians want to play games that no one cares about, my campaign remains fully committed to fighting for the U.P., not the Lansing donors fueling my opponents campaign."

FAQ

What is Michigan Senate District 38 (SD-38)?

Michigan Senate District 38 is a state legislative district covering the Upper Peninsula region. For statewide legislative context, see our Michigan Legislature page.

Who is running in the SD-38 Republican primary?

The filed Republican candidates currently include Beau LaFave, Dave Prestin, and Kayla Wikstrom.

Why did McBroom, Markkanen, and Bohnak rescind support for Jack Bergman?

The press release states the lawmakers rescinded support after Bergman endorsed Beau LaFave in the SD-38 race and alleges Bergman and staff began personally attacking U.P. lawmakers.

Has Bergman responded publicly?

As of publication, this site did not locate a public response from Bergman’s office specifically addressing the rescission described in the press release. This page will be updated if a response is issued.

What is the Tony “clients” / consulting allegation?

The press release alleges LaFave “hired” consulting services connected to Bergman’s chief of staff and asserts a pattern of endorsements tied to that relationship. This claim is presented as an allegation contained in the press release; the page will be updated if documentation is published.

Update Policy

This article will be updated as additional filings, public statements, campaign finance disclosures, or other substantiated documentation becomes available.