Having served 18 years as a congressman for Michigan’s 2nd District, Hoekstra could prove a formidable challenge to Stabenow, said Bernie Porn, president of Lansing-based polling firm EPIC-MRA.

“He will present a solid opposition to Debbie (Stabenow),” Porn said.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer said Hoekstra consistently voted against the best interests of Michigan’s citizens, supporting the privatization of Social Security and the cutting of unemployment benefits for workers in the state.

“Time and again, he’s not been on the side of Michigan (residents),” he said.

Unlike Hoekstra, Brewer said, Stabenow has fought for voters’ interests.

She helped ban oil drilling in the Great Lakes and has been a champion for the auto industry, he said.

But Michigan Republican Party Spokesman Matt Davis said Stabenow has cost Michigan many jobs.

“She has continued to vote for public policies that move jobs overseas and prevent domestic employers from expanding, (as well as on) higher taxes on business and more borrowing on the national debt,” Davis said.

EPIC-MRA released a poll Monday in which Stabenow had a negative job rating of 51 percent. In a February poll, EPIC-MRA asked 600 likely voters who they would vote for if an election for U.S. Senator between Stabenow and Hoekstra was held that month.

At the time, Stabenow had a negative job rating of 50 percent and earned 44 percent of polled voters’ favor, while Hoekstra earned 42 percent.

Before he faces Stabenow in a race for her U.S. Senate seat, Hoekstra first is up against Republican challengers, including former judge Randy Hekman, activist Peter Konetchy and Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner John McCulloch, in a primary election.