Three Michigan Democrats vie for Senate seat on affordability platform

Reps. Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow, and physician Abdul El-Sayed, offer different visions to address rising costs ahead of the state's 2026 Senate primary.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As the 2024 election saw rising economic discontent in political battlegrounds like Michigan, three Democratic candidates are now vying for the state's open U.S. Senate seat in 2026 with different pitches on how to address affordability concerns. U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens is focusing on manufacturing and union ties, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow is touting state-level policy ideas, and physician Abdul El-Sayed is centering his campaign on tackling corporate greed and pushing for Medicare for All.

Why it matters

The success or failure of these three Democrats in the Michigan Senate primary will help determine the party's fortunes in the November 2026 midterm elections, when control of Congress is at stake. Retaining this Senate seat held by the retiring Democratic incumbent, Gary Peters, will be crucial for the party's hopes of regaining a majority in the upper chamber.

The details

The three candidates are taking different approaches to the affordability issue. Stevens is campaigning against Trump-era tariffs that she says have hurt Michigan's manufacturing sector, while promising to find funding to fix the state's aging infrastructure. McMorrow is highlighting successful state-level programs like cash grants for new mothers, and pledging to expand on those initiatives nationally. El-Sayed is directly blaming corporate greed and lobbying power for high health care costs, and pushing for a Medicare for All system with an asterisk allowing for supplemental private coverage.

  • The Michigan Senate primary election is scheduled for August 2026.
  • The general election will take place in November 2026.

The players

Haley Stevens

U.S. Representative from Michigan's 11th congressional district, running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

Mallory McMorrow

Michigan state senator, running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

Abdul El-Sayed

Physician and former county health official, running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

Mike Rogers

Former U.S. Representative, the likely Republican nominee for the open Senate seat.

Gary Peters

The retiring Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator whose seat is up for grabs.

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 (Bridge Michigan)

“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 (Bridge Michigan)

“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 and Candidate for U.S. Senate (Bridge Michigan)

What’s next

The three Democratic candidates will face off in the state's August 2026 primary election, with the winner advancing to the November general election against the likely Republican nominee, former Rep. Mike Rogers.

The takeaway

The different approaches taken by the three Democratic Senate candidates in Michigan highlight the party's internal debate over the best way to address rising costs and economic concerns that proved pivotal in the 2024 election. Their success or failure in the primary will shape the party's messaging and strategy heading into the high-stakes 2026 midterms.