Overview
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer officially endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens on Friday, and hours later appeared with Stevens and Rep. Jim Clyburn at a Teamsters hall in Detroit to repeat her support.
- Whitmer’s endorsement comes one day before early in‑person voting began and is framed by backers as an effort to consolidate moderate and establishment backing against progressive Abdul El‑Sayed.
- Stevens has benefited from heavy outside spending, including nearly $30 million tied to AIPAC and other groups, while El‑Sayed has national progressive surrogates such as Bernie Sanders and AOC.
- El‑Sayed’s campaign called the move establishment interference and faced a separate controversy when a viral video showed a local supporter criticizing his use of Arabic, raising local tensions over outreach to Muslim and Arab voters.
- Polling is mixed with some averages showing a small Stevens lead and surveys saying many voters expect Whitmer’s endorsement to have little impact, and the Aug. 4 nominee will face former Rep. Mike Rogers in a race central to control of the Senate.