Overview
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens on Friday, July 24, adding a high-profile establishment voice to Stevens’s coalition and putting pressure on undecided voters in the final days before the Aug. 4 primary.
- Progressive leaders including Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Tina Smith have consolidated behind Abdul El-Sayed and he retains union support from the UAW.
- Outside groups have poured roughly $50 million into the Democratic contest with about $30 million tied to pro-Israel spending that has funded ads favorable to Stevens and focused attention on candidates’ positions on Israel.
- Republicans privately say they prefer El-Sayed as the general-election opponent and Mike Rogers told supporters he thinks his campaign would be “in good shape” if El-Sayed wins, a line Democrats use to argue electability is at issue.
- Democrats warn that the bitter, nationalized primary and late August timetable could depress fall turnout in Michigan and complicate efforts to hold this key Senate seat for the party in November.