Michigan Gov. Whitmer endorses Haley Stevens in Democratic Senate primary

Published Jul 24, 07:26 PM UTC

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Representative Haley Stevens in the state's contentious Democratic Senate primary on July 24, 2026, wading into a high-profile ideological battle within the party. Stevens faces former public health official Abdul El-Sayed in the August 4 primary to replace retiring Senator Gary Peters. The race highlights the Democratic Party's internal divide: Stevens represents the moderate wing, backed by Whitmer, outgoing Senator Peters, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, while El-Sayed has galvanized progressives with endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Warren's endorsement video criticized Stevens for accepting nearly $30 million from the AIPAC-aligned United Democracy Project. The winner will face Republican former Representative Mike Rogers, endorsed by President Donald Trump, in the November general election. The race has drawn national attention as Democrats seek to retain the seat.