Stevens, El-Sayed head into Michigan Senate Primary debate

News Stevens, El-Sayed head into Michigan Senate Primary debate Comments: by Josie Fischels - 07/07/26 3:26 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Josie Fischels - 07/07/26 3:26 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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(NewsNation) — Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary enters its final stretch Tuesday night as Rep. Haley Stevens and former state health official Abdul El-Sayed meet for a televised debate. It’s the pair’s first face-off since state Sen. Mallory McMorrow dropped out of the race Sunday.

McMorrow’s exit narrows what had been a three-way primary into a direct contest between the party’s moderate and progressive sides. Stevens, a mainstream congresswoman, has the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. El-Sayed, a progressive, is supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in November for the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. Democrats consider the seat a must-win as they try to flip four seats to retake the Senate majority.

Stances on Israel are the biggest dividing issue between the candidates. El-Sayed has criticized Stevens over her AIPAC-linked support, arguing that money tied to the group is being used to boost primary rivals who won’t back cuts to U.S. funding for Israel. Stevens has avoided direct answers on the AIPAC question, instead pointing to her broader coalition of support. She has also criticized El-Sayed for appearing alongside streamer Hasan Piker.