Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer made a surprise late endorsement Friday for Representative Haley Stevens in the state's open Senate race, underscoring establishment Democratic fears that a progressive victory could jeopardize their chances in November. The move came just days before the August 4 primary, as Whitmer joined a small group of party insiders backing Stevens over former Wayne County health official Abdul El-Sayed.
In a video shared by Stevens' campaign, Whitmer emphasized her own pragmatic approach to governance, saying, “As governor, I’ve had one strategy: Get things done. And that strategy informs everything that I do, and that’s why I’m endorsing Haley Stevens for the U.S. Senate.” She added, “Just like me, Haley will do whatever it takes to get things done for the people of Michigan, and we need her now more than ever.”
Stevens welcomed the endorsement from Whitmer, who is seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender. “Governor Whitmer embodies what it means to be ‘that woman from Michigan’ and everything that makes our state so special,” Stevens said. “She’s authentically Michigan — and I could not be more honored to have her endorsement for U.S. Senate. Let’s go win!”
The endorsement adds Whitmer to the establishment coalition backing Stevens, which includes retiring Senator Gary Peters and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Peters, who earlier said he would stay neutral, endorsed Stevens this month after state Senator Mallory McMorrow dropped out. The party's leadership is increasingly worried that an El-Sayed win could alienate moderate voters and hand the seat to Republicans in the general election.
El-Sayed has drawn support from prominent progressives, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have rallied for him. The United Auto Workers also endorsed El-Sayed, a notable shift from the union’s traditional ties to auto industry roots. The race is testing whether the progressive momentum seen in House primaries can translate to a high-stakes Senate contest in a key battleground state.
Republicans have taken note of the Democratic divide. Michigan GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers reportedly told supporters on a private call last month that he would be in “good shape” if El-Sayed wins the primary, according to CNN. El-Sayed’s campaign fired back, with spokesperson Roxie Richner saying, “Mike Rogers won’t be in ‘good shape’ in November, but the people of Michigan will be.”
The Michigan Republican Party seized on Whitmer’s endorsement as a sign of panic. “Establishment Democrats are beyond panicked, and Gretchen Whitmer’s endorsement of Haley Stevens proves it,” said Greg Manz, senior communications advisor for the state GOP. “However, Whitmer closing ranks behind Stevens does not change the fact that she is every bit as extreme as Abdul El-Sayed.”
Progressives have unseated several House incumbents in reliably blue districts this cycle, raising the question of whether El-Sayed can replicate that success in a statewide race. The collapse of Graham Platner’s Senate bid in Maine earlier this month has added caution, but El-Sayed’s campaign remains confident. The primary will test whether voters in Michigan prefer Stevens’ centrist record or El-Sayed’s calls for systemic change, with the winner facing a tough general election battle.
