Michigan votes in primary races

DETROIT -- Michigan Democrats voted Tuesday in a closely watched Senate primary between moderate U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and progressive favorite Abdul El-Sayed, with the winner heading to a November contest critical to the party's hope of reclaiming the Senate majority.

Democrats endured a bitter and expensive campaign that became the latest proxy battle between the party's establishment and progressive wings. Some candidates from the left flank -- including democratic socialists -- have found success in the party's U.S. House primaries, including in New York and Denver.

Those, however, were deep-blue cities. Michigan has a purple hue, and the Senate primary was the biggest test yet of the progressive movement's growing political might.

Inside Detroit's Majestic Theatre for El-Sayed's event, vote counts flashed on a projector screen in front of a packed crowd riled up by speakers, including labor leaders. El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, campaigned on "Medicare for All," campaign finance reform and ending military aid to Israel.

In the same city, a hundred people gathered at Stevens' campaign bash, a chunk of them campaign staff, mingling over charcuterie and drinks near an empty podium. The atmosphere was subdued but optimistic.

Stevens, a four-term congresswoman, focused on manufacturing and the economy. She had stressed her past victories in tough races, saying she is best positioned to beat Rogers and calling her campaign a "love letter to Michigan."

Stevens benefited from tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, including the largest investment in a race ever from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which supports pro-Israel candidates.

The race is crucial in which party controls the chamber in the last two years of President Donald Trump's term.

Voters were also choosing nominees in competitive House races and for governor. The GOP gubernatorial primary featured U.S. Rep. John James, who was backed by Trump, and businessperson Perry Johnson, who spent millions dollars from his personal fortune. In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson beat Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

Their heavy-hitting backers showed that divide: Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., supported El-Sayed, while Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., backed Stevens.

Stevens won election to Congress in 2018 after serving as chief of staff to former President Barack Obama's auto task force, which helped oversee the federal rescue of General Motors and Chrysler. Her campaign and allied groups have repeatedly highlighted that experience, including advertisements featuring Obama calling her "a critical part of my team."

El-Sayed, who lost the 2018 gubernatorial primary to now-Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, cast himself as the anti-establishment candidate and argued that Democrats need to reject corporate influence and embrace a more progressive agenda.

The winner will face former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who was unopposed in the GOP primary after narrowly losing a Senate race in 2024.

There are several competitive House races this year that will help decide whether Republicans hold their slim majority or Democrats reclaim the chamber.

In the 4th District, which stretches along Lake Michigan, Democratic state Sen. Sean McCann and election newcomer Diop Harris II were vying to become the nominee to try to oust GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga, who again won his party's nomination.

In the 7th District, former U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, community organizer William Lawrence and former Navy Seal Matt Maasdam were seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in the seat representing the Lansing area.

The 10th District, which opened up due to James' run for governor, includes a portion of Oakland County and stretches across conservative communities in Macomb County. In the GOP primary, Trump-endorsed Michael Bouchard beat Steffan Demetropoulos and Justin Kirk.

The Democratic primary featured former state House Rep. Tim Greimel, former prosecutor Christina Hines and former Commerce Department attorney Eric Chung.

And in a heavily Democratic district representing Detroit, Rep. Shri Thanedar looked to fend off a primary challenge from state Rep. Donavan McKinney, who argued that the city should once again have a Black representative in Congress. After Thanedar won election in 2022, Detroit had no Black representation in Congress for the first time since the early 1950s.