Michigan Senate primary tests Democrats in must-win 2026 race
Why it matters: The winner will seek to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters in a seat Democrats view as critical to Senate control.
Michigan voters headed to the polls Tuesday in a closely watched Democratic Senate primary that has become a proxy fight over the party’s direction ahead of the midterms. The contest pits Abdul El-Sayed, a former Wayne County Health Department director backed by prominent progressives, against Rep. Haley Stevens, a more centrist candidate supported by party establishment figures. The winner will run for the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. The race is drawing national attention because Michigan is a battleground state and Democrats consider the seat essential as Republicans defend a narrow Senate majority.