Michigan Democrats split between Stevens and El-Sayed in Senate primary
Why it matters: Democrats need to hold Michigan and gain four seats overall to retake the Senate majority.
Michigan Democrats are heading into a closely fought Senate primary that has become a test of the party’s direction before the midterms. Rep. Haley Stevens, a four-term congresswoman with a more moderate profile, faces Abdul El-Sayed, a former Detroit and Wayne County health official backed by progressives and the United Auto Workers. The contest for the open U.S. Senate seat has turned into a broader clash over establishment versus insurgent politics, corporate money and how aggressively Democrats should push policies such as Medicare for All. With voting set for Tuesday, the race carries national weight because Democrats must defend the Michigan seat as part of a broader push to net four seats and win back Senate control.