The Lansing Regional Chamber's political action committee endorsed Republican Rep. Tom Barrett, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and Democratic state Sen. Sarah Anthony on Thursday, Aug. 20, giving all three the backing of more than 1,000 businesses across Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties heading into the Nov. 3 general election.

The slate is bipartisan. The three endorsements round out a six-candidate list that crosses party lines. The LRC-PAC previously endorsed Republican Doug Lloyd for attorney general, Democrat Angela Witwer for the 76th state House District and Democrat Harold Pope for the 74th state House District.

"We aren't going to agree with every candidate we endorse on every issue, nor should that be the standard," Steve Japinga, senior vice president of public affairs for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, said in the PAC's announcement. "Our responsibility is to look at each race individually and ask which candidate is best positioned to help our region and its business community succeed."

The PAC cited Barrett's work on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and his record on housing, permitting reform and infrastructure investment. Barrett, a Charlotte Republican, faces Democrat William Lawrence in the 7th Congressional District race, according to the Lansing State Journal. The LRC-PAC said it would continue pressing Barrett on health care affordability and trade policies that avoid raising costs for Michigan businesses.

For the Senate seat, the PAC pointed to Rogers' decade-plus representing much of the Lansing region in Congress and his focus on private-sector growth. Rogers, who chaired the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 to 2015, faces Democrat Abdul El-Sayed on Nov. 3, WKAR reported.

Anthony drew the endorsement for her role as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where the PAC said she has secured resources for Ingham and Eaton counties supporting housing, water infrastructure, public safety and community development. The PAC said it would encourage Anthony to champion policies that help small businesses grow and remove barriers to entrepreneurship.

The LRC-PAC has not yet endorsed in the governor's race. The PAC said it "continues to review" that contest and expects to announce additional endorsements in the weeks ahead.

No membership dues fund the PAC's political activity, according to the chamber. The endorsement process included the chamber's Meet the Candidates Series, candidate conversations, record reviews and a vote by the LRC-PAC Board of Directors.