Michigan Senate Hopefuls Vie for Union Support

Democrats fight to win back working-class voters in key Senate race

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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In a gathering of the United Automobile Workers union, Democratic Senate candidates in Michigan are jockeying for the support of working-class voters. Representative Haley Stevens, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and State Senator Mallory McMorrow each pitched their vision for connecting with these voters, who have increasingly backed Republicans in recent elections. The race is seen as a test of whether Democrats can regain ground with this crucial voting bloc.

Why it matters

Democrats were devastated by their 2024 presidential defeat in part because they lost ground with working-class voters, many of whom had previously supported the party. The Michigan Senate race is an early test of whether Democrats can win back these voters, which will be crucial not just for the 2026 midterms but also the next presidential election.

The details

At the UAW gathering, the candidates took different approaches. Representative Haley Stevens emphasized her experience and ties to unions, while Dr. Abdul El-Sayed pushed progressive policies like 'Medicare for all.' State Senator Mallory McMorrow sought to position herself as a pragmatic choice, criticizing both the rhetoric-focused El-Sayed and the 'corporate-beholden' Stevens.

  • The gathering took place on February 11, 2026.

The players

Raphael Warnock

The senior pastor of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church and a potential presidential candidate.

Haley Stevens

A Democratic Representative from Michigan who worked on the Obama administration's auto task force and cast herself as an experienced lawmaker with close ties to unions.

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed

A progressive former public health official endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, who pushed left-leaning ideas like 'Medicare for all' and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Mallory McMorrow

A Michigan State Senator who emphasized her experience on labor issues while urging attendees not to 'settle' for candidates who prioritize 'rhetoric over results' or are 'too beholden to corporate interests.'

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What they’re saying

“Workers are seeing that they're creating wealth for others, but it's not showing up in their paychecks. There is a growing sense in our country that our best days are behind us.”

— Raphael Warnock, Senator (The New York Times)

“I am done with politicians telling us what we cannot have and should not fight for. That we just got to wait a couple more years until the time is right. When is the time going to be right?”

— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Candidate (The New York Times)

“We do not have to settle for somebody who prioritizes rhetoric over results, who's never held office. We don't have to settle for somebody who's too beholden to corporate interests to actually work alongside you.”

— Mallory McMorrow, Candidate (The New York Times)

What’s next

The Michigan Senate race is expected to be highly competitive, with the candidates' different approaches to connecting with working-class voters likely to be a key point of debate.

The takeaway

The Michigan Senate race will be a crucial test of whether Democrats can win back the working-class voters who have increasingly supported Republicans in recent elections, with major implications for the party's future.