The popular governor lends her weight to centrist Haley Stevens in the race.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) threw her support behind Rep. Haley Stevens on Friday in the increasingly bitter Senate Democratic primary for a seat that could be pivotal in determining control of the chamber.
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“Haley knows how to get things done for Michigan,” Whitmer said in a video announcing her endorsement on Friday. “She’ll be ready to deliver on Day 1 on manufacturing, lowering costs and protecting our health care and Social Security.”
The announcement is the latest big-name Michigan endorsement for Stevens as she contends with Abdul El-Sayed, the Bernie Sanders-backed former public health official who is running from the left. Some establishment Democrats believe that El-Sayed could face a tougher general election path than the more centrist Stevens in the swing state. The state’s former Democratic senator, Debbie Stabenow, and outgoing Sen. Gary Peters (D) have also endorsed Stevens.
El-Sayed recently picked up an endorsement from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), as well as from a handful of progressive Democratic senators.
Whitmer, the two-term governor who is popular among the state’s Democrats, was seen as a top recruit to run for the Senate seat by Washington Democrats. She declined to run, leading Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) to endorse Stevens.
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The race has set off tensions between the left and centrist factions of the Democratic Party on support for Israel and the role of money in politics. El-Sayed regularly slams Stevens for benefiting from millions in outside spending, much of it from organizations affiliated with the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC. Stevens has portrayed El-Sayed as unelectable in the purple state, and pressed him on his association with the controversial Twitch streamer and Israel critic Hasan Piker. She’s also criticized him for requesting an extension to release his financial disclosure.
“Governor Whitmer embodies what it means to be ‘that woman from Michigan’ and everything that makes our state so special,” Stevens said in a statement. She’s authentically Michigan — and I could not be more honored to have her endorsement for U.S. Senate. Let’s go win!”
El-Sayed challenged Whitmer in 2018 in a Democratic primary for governor, but was beaten decisively by her.
The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will face Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman.
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