Michigan Democratic Senate primary remains too close to call

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(The Center Square) – Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary remained too close to call late Tuesday night, with progressive Abdul El-Sayed and establishment-backed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens locked in a tight race for the party’s nomination.

El-Sayed and Stevens were separated by only a few percentage points throughout Tuesday evening, with El-Sayed holding 50% of the vote as of 11 p.m. EST, compared to Stevens’ 46%.

Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow also appeared on the Democratic primary ballot, receiving 4% of the vote.

That was with 40% of the votes counted.

The winner will face Republican and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who ran unopposed in the primary, in 91 days. Rogers has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Michigan’s U.S. Senate candidates are vying to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat.

Although El-Sayed rejected the label of democratic socialist, he has aligned himself with the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.

He has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, and several members of the progressive congressional group known as “the Squad,” which includes U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, Rashida Tlaib, D-MI, and Ilhan Omar, D-MN.

While Stevens and El-Sayed shared some progressive positions, El-Sayed has embraced a broader slate of left-wing policies, including Medicare for all and a wealth tax on billionaires.

El-Sayed has cast himself as the candidate taking on “AIPAC and the establishment.” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying organization, has spent millions backing Stevens’ campaign.

Stevens dismissed several of his policy proposals as “aspirational” during the campaign. She also received the endorsement of the current seat holder, Peters, highlighting her support among Democratic Party leaders. That backing was partly driven by the view that she was the stronger candidate to take on Rogers in the general election.

The close primary race underscores divisions within the Democratic Party as voters weigh between Stevens’ establishment backing and El-Sayed’s progressive platform.

The November U.S. Senate race in Michigan is one of the nation's most closely watched Senate races.

In 2024, Michigan’s U.S. Senate race was decided by less than half a percentage point, with U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin narrowly defeating Rogers. While Democrats are divided, on the Republican side, the party leadership and funding has once again rallied around Rogers.

The outcome of Michigan's Senate race will play a role in determining which party controls the 120th Congress.

Of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate, 33 are up for regular election in 2026, along with two special elections. Democrats currently hold 13 of the seats on the ballot, while Republicans hold 22.