Sen. Gary Peters endorses Rep. Haley Stevens over Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan Senate primary

The Hill—Retiring Michigan Sen. Gary Peters has endorsed Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens for his Senate seat, backing her over progressive challenger Abdul El-Sayed in what is expected to be a contested primary. The endorsement carries significant weight as Peters departs after one term, leaving an open contest in a critical swing state. Stevens, representing a suburban Detroit district, is seen as the more centrist candidate, while El-Sayed has positioned himself to the left. The race is considered a bellwether for the Democratic Party's ideological direction in 2026.

• The Hill — Stevens is a US Representative from suburban Detroit; Peters's seat is open after his retirement
• The New Yorker — The Race to Be the First Democratic Primary State
• Washington Examiner — Peters explicitly backed Stevens over progressive Abdul El-Sayed, the former Michigan gubernatorial candidate
• Memeorandum — Michigan Sen. Gary Peters backs Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens in contentious race to succeed him (Joey
• Memeorandum — Peters endorses Stevens in tight Michigan Senate primary contest (Melissa Nann Burke/The Detroit News)
• Washington Post — Peters chose Stevens in a primary Democrats are watching as an indicator of the party's ideological direction