3 Michigan Democrats vie for Senate seat on affordability platform

Reps. Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow, and physician Abdul El-Sayed, offer different visions to tackle cost-of-living concerns in battleground state

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In the race for the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, three Democratic candidates - U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and physician Abdul El-Sayed - are making affordability and the cost of living central to their campaigns. The candidates are taking different approaches, with Stevens focusing on manufacturing and union issues, McMorrow emphasizing state-level policy successes, and El-Sayed targeting corporate greed and healthcare costs. The outcome of the August primary will be crucial for Democrats' hopes of retaining control of the Senate in the November midterm elections.

Why it matters

Michigan is a key battleground state, and the ability of Democrats to address economic concerns that helped propel Donald Trump's return to the White House in 2024 will be crucial. The race for the open Senate seat held by the retiring Democrat Gary Peters will be a major test of the party's vision for affordability and cost-of-living issues.

The details

The three Democratic candidates are taking distinct approaches to the affordability challenge. Rep. Haley Stevens is campaigning against Trump's tariff strategy, saying it has hurt Michigan's manufacturing sector. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow is touting state-level policy successes, like a program providing cash grants to new mothers, and promising to expand on those. Physician Abdul El-Sayed is blaming corporate greed and lobbying power for high healthcare costs, and championing Medicare for All with an asterisk allowing for supplemental coverage.

  • The Democratic primary in Michigan is scheduled for August 2026.
  • The general election for the U.S. Senate seat will take place in November 2026.

The players

Haley Stevens

U.S. Representative from Michigan's 11th congressional district, which includes part of the Detroit metropolitan area. She is positioning herself as a moderate Democrat focused on manufacturing and union issues.

Mallory McMorrow

Michigan state senator who has gained national recognition for viral moments, including bringing a "Project 2025" prop to the 2024 Democratic convention. She is emphasizing state-level policy successes and promising to expand on them.

Abdul El-Sayed

Physician and former county health official who ran for Michigan governor in 2018. He is campaigning on a platform of tackling corporate greed and high healthcare costs, championing Medicare for All with an asterisk.

Mike Rogers

Former U.S. Congressman who is the likely Republican nominee for the open Senate seat. He lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by 19,000 votes in the 2024 election.

Gary Peters

Retiring Democratic U.S. Senator from Michigan whose seat is up for grabs in 2026.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He's been more focused on cutting deals all over the world than cutting deals here in Michigan, and now we have job insecurity and in some cases job loss.”

— Haley Stevens, U.S. Representative

“When something's working, you expand on it. I think there's a huge opportunity where Michigan has done a lot of things right that we can ensure every American benefits from.”

— Mallory McMorrow, Michigan State Senator

“In an era where union membership is near an all-time low and in an era where inequality is near an all-time high, we have to recognize that these two things are not a coincidence, they are one in the same problem.”

— Abdul El-Sayed, Physician

What’s next

The Democratic primary election in Michigan is scheduled for August 2026, and the winner will face the Republican nominee in the November general election. The outcome of this race will be crucial for determining control of the U.S. Senate.

The takeaway

The three Democratic candidates in Michigan's Senate primary are offering different visions for addressing affordability and the cost of living, which emerged as a key issue that helped propel Donald Trump's return to the White House in 2024. The ability of Democrats to harness these economic concerns in a battleground state like Michigan will be crucial for the party's hopes of retaining control of the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.