Gretchen Whitmer endorses moderate Haley Stevens in tight upcoming Senate primary

Gretchen Whitmer backed Haley Stevens over Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate primary as early voting begins, setting up a key Democratic clash.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens ahead of the state’s U.S. Senate Democratic primary.

Stevens, a more centrist candidate, and progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed are considered the front-runners in the race as early voting starts on Saturday.

Whitmer’s endorsement could give Stevens a boost in a state where the governor twice won by considerable margins.

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Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., speaks with media after a debate at WoodTV studios on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo/Kristen Norman)

The governor also beat El-Sayed in the Democratic primary for governor in 2018.

Whitmer told supporters at a Teamsters hall in Detroit on Friday that Stevens has “what it takes to win” while appearing with her and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn.

“Michiganders need a fighter in Washington and there are few leaders with more fight in ’em than Haley Stevens,” Whitmer said at the event.

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Stevens, who flipped a Republican House seat in 2018, is also backed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, a two-term Democrat who is retiring from the seat.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers the State of the State address at the Michigan state Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 25, 2026. (Devin Anderson-Torrez/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP)

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are backing El-Sayed.

“The corporate establishment has closed ranks and made their pick – now, Michigan voters will get to make theirs,” Roxie Richner, a spokesperson for El-Sayed, told the Associated Press.

JEWISH MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS ADMIT THEY WILL VOTE REPUBLICAN IF ABDUL EL-SAYED BECOMES NOMINEE

From left foreground, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary candidate Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., join hands following a campaign rally Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

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Michigan’s Democratic primary is on Aug. 4 and the winner will face Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in November.

Democrats want to flip the U.S. Senate from narrow Republican control and must hold Michigan to do so.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.