Bay County Executive Jim Barcia described the Michigan Democratic primary for U.S. Senate as “going to go down to the wire” on Thursday, noting current momentum favors progressive hopeful Abdul El-Sayed.
Barcia, a centrist Democrat who plans to vote for Rep. Haley Stevens, said the contest next Tuesday is attracting national attention from pundits and political figures.
The race pits Rep. Abdul El-Sayed — a physician and former executive director of Detroit Health Department backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — against Rep. Haley Stevens, who is endorsed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, outgoing Sen. Gary Peters, and former Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
A recent Mitchell Research poll shows El-Sayed leading Stevens 52% to 38% among likely Democratic voters, his highest lead since the primary campaign began.
In recent weeks, El-Sayed has criticized Stevens for drawing support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a group Barcia described as “not popular with the Democratic base.”
Pollster Steve Mitchell noted that El-Sayed’s positions on Palestinian rights and healthcare through “Medicare for All” have energized the party’s progressive wing.
This faction helped Sen. Sanders secure Michigan’s Democratic presidential primary victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016, the eventual nominee.
Mitchell also said the progressive bloc recently took control of the Democratic nominating conventions for statewide offices including secretary of state and attorney general.
Michigan Republicans express hope that El-Sayed wins Tuesday’s nomination, believing he would be an easier opponent for former Rep. Mike Rogers in November. In 2024, Rogers narrowly lost his Senate bid to Democrat Elissa Slotkin.
“El-Sayed has endeared himself to progressives and the Arab community, and there’s more energy on his side than Stevens,” said former Oakland County GOP Chairman Rocky Raczkowski. “By winning the Senate nomination Tuesday, he can do a great thing for America — and a great thing for Mike Rogers.”
