Election 2026 Michigan Senate

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed are in a close race for the Democratic Senate nomination in Michigan. The primary became one of the nation’s most expensive campaigns and a proxy battle between the Democratic Party’s establishment and progressive wings. Tuesday's winner will face off in November against Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who is running unopposed after narrowly losing a Senate race in 2024. Democrats were also picking nominees to replace Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and to settle several competitive House primaries.

Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in a victory for the party’s progressive wing in a battleground state. El-Sayed narrowly defeated U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and will face Republican Mike Rogers in November. The seat is pivotal to Democrats’ chances of flipping the Senate. El-Sayed will face the challenge of uniting a divided Democratic base after a bruising primary. El-Sayed, a former health official, campaigned on “Medicare for All,” halting military aid to Israel and campaign finance reform. He had support from progressive leaders including Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.