High-Stakes Michigan Democratic Senate Primary Called

The seat became open after Democratic Sen. Gary Peters announced in early 2025 that he would not seek a third term in office.

The Democratic primary narrowed to Stevens and El-Sayed after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow ended her campaign in July, leaving Democratic voters to choose between two candidates representing different wings of the party.

Stevens entered the race with the support of many establishment Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who viewed her moderate political profile as a strong fit for a statewide race in a politically competitive state.

El-Sayed, meanwhile, earned endorsements from prominent progressive leaders, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while campaigning on policies such as Medicare for All and broader economic reforms.

Health care became one of the major issues separating the candidates, with El-Sayed supporting a single-payer system while Stevens favored a different approach.

The candidates also sharply disagreed over corporate influence in politics, campaign finance and the role of outside spending in elections.