Michigan Democrats hold primary debate for open Senate seat
The Story
The top three Democratic candidates for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat are debating Thursday at the state party’s annual policy conference. The race is seen as a test for the party’s direction after sweeping losses in 2024. The Republican nominee, former congressman Mike Rogers, faces no primary challenger.
Key Facts
- The debate features U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed.
- The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026.
- Incumbent Democrat Gary Peters is not seeking a third Senate term.
- No Michigan Republican has been elected to the U.S. Senate since 1994.
- Stevens is described as a moderate, establishment-aligned candidate; El-Sayed is in the progressive lane; McMorrow is positioned between them.
- Rogers lost the 2024 Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by fewer than 20,000 votes.
- The Republican Senate campaign organization has reserved $45 million in ads, compared with $20 million by Democrats.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens
- State Sen. Mallory McMorrow
- Abdul El-Sayed, former public health official
- Mike Rogers, former congressman and Republican nominee
- U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — endorsed El-Sayed
- Sens. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) — endorsed Stevens
- Elissa Slotkin, former Democratic senator who won in 2024
- Gary Peters, outgoing Democratic senator
- Donald Trump, former president who carried Michigan in 2024
- Chuck Schumer, New York senator (mentioned in McMorrow’s criticism)
Sources: abcnews.com
