Michigan Democrats Rally Behind Abdul El-Sayed After Divisive Senate Primary/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Michigan Democrats are gathering to demonstrate unity three days after Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in a bitter Senate primary. El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in a battleground race that could help determine control of the U.S. Senate. Stevens says she is prepared to campaign for El-Sayed as Democrats also unite behind gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson.
DETROIT — Michigan Democrats will gather Friday in an attempt to show unity behind their statewide nominees after a divisive U.S. Senate primary.
The event comes three days after Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens.
Their contentious campaign exposed tensions between the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party.
El-Sayed, a former public health official, will be the most closely watched candidate at Friday’s gathering.
He defeated Stevens, a four-term congresswoman backed by many prominent Democratic officials and outside organizations.
El-Sayed’s victory represented a major breakthrough for progressives seeking to demonstrate that their candidates can win in competitive states.
El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election.
With fewer than three months remaining, Democrats must bring together voters who supported two candidates offering sharply different visions for the party.
The Michigan race could help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.
El-Sayed began calling for unity shortly after winning the nomination.
His campaign must now appeal to Stevens supporters while retaining the progressive voters and volunteers who delivered his primary victory.
Stevens lost the primary by just under 1 percentage point.
She told CBS News on Thursday that she was prepared to help El-Sayed during the general election campaign.
Her participation could reassure moderate voters and donors who opposed El-Sayed during the primary.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is scheduled to participate in Friday’s gathering.
Buttigieg, a potential future presidential candidate, lives in Michigan.
His attendance adds national prominence to the event and could help emphasize Democratic support for the party’s nominees.
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters chose not to seek reelection.
His decision created an open seat in one of the country’s most competitive states.
Democrats must defend it to improve their chances of gaining or maintaining control of the Senate.
Michigan has shifted repeatedly between the two major parties during recent presidential elections.
The state supported Trump in 2016, voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and returned to Trump in 2024.
That history makes El-Sayed’s race against Rogers a major test for both progressive politics and Democratic organizing.
Gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson is also scheduled to attend the unity event.
Benson easily won the Democratic primary and will face Trump-backed Rep. John James in November.
The governor’s race gives Democrats another critical statewide contest in which party unity and turnout will be essential.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist is expected to participate as the Democratic candidate for secretary of state.
Eli Savit, the party’s candidate for attorney general, will also attend.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel will join the nominees as the party attempts to shift its focus from primary divisions to defeating Republicans in November.
More on US News
