Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens Face Off in Michigan Democratic Senate Primary

Published Aug 4, 03:08 PM UTC

Michigan Democratic voters will decide on Tuesday between former public health official Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens in a closely-watched Senate primary for the open seat of retiring Sen. Gary Peters. The race is a key battleground for control of the U.S. Senate, with the swing state seen as a must-win for both parties. El-Sayed, a progressive backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, leads in recent polls. Stevens, a more moderate Democrat endorsed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and former Sen. Debbie Stabenow, argues she has the best chance to defeat Republican nominee Mike Rogers in November. The candidates have clashed over AI data centers and U.S. foreign policy, particularly aid to Israel. The primary outcome will offer insights into voter sentiment ahead of the 2028 presidential election.