Stabenow picks a side in Michigan's Democratic primary for US Senate
WASHINGTON ― Former U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow is backing Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat, saying that she believes the four-term congresswoman is the candidate who can beat Republican Mike Rogers and hold the seat for Democrats.
Stabenow, who retired from the Senate last year, had previously said she wouldn't endorse in the Senate primary, but changed her mind because "the stakes are just too high right now."
"We're in a situation where we're seeing across the country, we actually could take the majority in the U.S. Senate and be in a position to stop the chaos and corruption of this president and really begin to turn things around for people in Michigan," Stabenow told The Detroit News. "We have to hold this seat in order to do that, and every single poll shows that Haley is the person that beats Mike Rogers."
Stevens of Birmingham is locked in a tight and increasingly nasty primary battle with state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak and physician Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor.
Michigan's Democratic Senate primary is one of the most competitive contests in the country this year after U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, opted not to seek reelection. The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will likely face Rogers in the November general election, with national Republicans targeting the seat as a top pick-up opportunity.
Stabenow of Lansing said she's known Stevens since her days serving as chief of staff of the auto rescue task force during the Obama administration. Stabenow said Stevens knows Michigan, knows manufacturing and knows what it takes to create good jobs.
"For me, I've always been about fighting for Michigan and getting things done, and I know that's what Haley will do," Stabenow said. "She's got Michigan grit. ... I'm very enthusiastic about Haley."
Stevens is also reportedly the preferred candidate of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
But a number of Democrats in Schumer's caucus have backed McMorrow, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Peter Welch of Vermont and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has endorsed El-Sayed, while Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada has backed Stevens.
Stabenow called those senators her friends: "God bless them, but they don't know Michigan."
"They're looking at sort of what's happening online and I appreciate that, but they have their own agendas for doing what they're saying," Stabenow added. "I want somebody who sees everything through the lens of Michigan, and that's Haley."
On the recent nastiness and attacks between the Democratic candidates, Stabenow encouraged them to talk about why they want to be Michigan's next senator, their strengths and what they're fighting for.
"We do better if we're talking about issues and being positive," she said. "Because in the end, this is not about a primary. This is about winning the general election and stopping another Trump supporter from being in the United States Senate."
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This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 11:56 AM.