{"id":2634934,"date":"2026-07-24T18:40:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T22:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whitmer-backs-haley-stevens-in-hotly-contested-michigan-senate-race\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T18:46:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T22:46:11","slug":"whitmer-backs-haley-stevens-in-hotly-contested-michigan-senate-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whitmer-backs-haley-stevens-in-hotly-contested-michigan-senate-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Whitmer backs Haley Stevens in hotly contested Michigan Senate race"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhitmer-backs-haley-stevens-in-hotly-contested-michigan-senate-race%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2634934&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Governor Gretchen Whitmer of michigan endorsed Democrat Haley Stevens in the state&#8217;s competitive Senate primary, which is currently a close race against socialist-backed candidate Abdul El Sayed.The primary contest is seen as a test of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-blasts-fox-news-during-interview-on-network-tucker-must-be-smiling\/\" title=\"Trump criticizes Fox News in interview, Tucker Carlson likely pleased.\">anti-establishment sentiment<\/a> within the Democratic Party, with meaningful endorsements from prominent lawmakers like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supporting El Sayed, while Whitmer and other establishment figures back Stevens. Whitmer praised Stevens&#8217; alignment with her pragmatic &#8220;get things done&#8221; approach and highlighted her Michigan roots. The race has remained narrowly contested, with polling showing close margins. The primary winner will face GOP candidate Mike Rogers, a former congressman, in an election rated as a toss-up.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gretchen-whitmer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2550\">Gretchen Whitmer<\/a> (D-MI) endorsed Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4654999\/haley-stevens-michigan-senate-race-black-voters-abdul-el-sayed\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4654999\">Haley Stevens <\/a>(D-MI) in the congresswoman\u2019s tight Senate primary in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a> against former public health official <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"23138\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevens and el Sayed are locked in a neck-and-neck primary to see who will vie to succeed retiring Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gary-peters\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1182\">Gary Peters<\/a> (D-MI) in the general election, with Stevens representing the more centrist, establishment wing as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4633690\/aoc-endorses-abdul-el-sayed-michigan-primary-anti-establishment-momentum\/\">el Sayed is backed by<\/a> several <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/socialists\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3282\">socialist<\/a> lawmakers. Whitmer, who has won two statewide races in the purple state that President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> won in 2016 and 2024, said she is backing Stevens because the congresswoman shares her core \u201cget things done\u201d strategy.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4663052\/whitmer-backs-haley-stevens-michigan-senate-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Whitmer backs Haley Stevens in hotly contested Michigan Senate race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4662113\/katz-graham-platner-reddit-tattoo-campaign-ezra-klein\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner\u2019s lead strategist says his Reddit posts and Nazi-linked tattoo \u2018should have been enough\u2019 to drop him<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4661824\/black-democrats-bulwark-socialist-takeover\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Black Democrats emerge as bulwark against socialist takeover<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJust like me, Haley will do whatever it takes to get things done for the people of Michigan, and we need her now more than ever,\u201d Whitmer said. \u201cRepublicans in D.C. are making your life harder and more expensive. Tariffs, cuts to Medicaid, soaring gas prices \u2014 it\u2019s all piling on. Luckily, Haley is taking them on and putting money back in Michiganders\u2019 pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race between Stevens and el Sayed has attracted many endorsements from high-profile lawmakers, as it has become a test for antiestablishment and anti-<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/aipac\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2620\">AIPAC<\/a> sentiment on the Left.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"41\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elizabeth-warren\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"250\">Elizabeth Warren<\/a> (D-MA), and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chris-van-hollen\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1944\">Chris Van Hollen<\/a> (D-MD), as well as Reps. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"282\">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a> (D-NY) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5039\">Ro Khanna<\/a> (D-CA) have all supported el Sayed and his pitch to get big money out of politics. Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"384\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY), Peters <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4645582\/gary-peters-endorses-haley-stevens-michigan-senate-race\/\">himself<\/a>, and now Whitmer are some of the big names in the Democratic establishment who have touted Stevens as the Democratic Party\u2019s best choice if they want to win in the general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHaley is as Michigan as it gets,\u201d Whitmer <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HaleyforMI\/status\/2080731052973191401?s=20\">said<\/a> in her endorsement message. \u201cShe grew up in a middle-class household, her parents ran a landscaping business out of their Ford F-150, and she\u2019ll tell anyone who will listen about her first Oldsmobile. She knows what Michigan families are going through, and that\u2019s how I know she will always put Michigan first.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whitmer also ran against el Sayed herself in the state\u2019s 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary. She bested the public health official by a 21.8-point margin that year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4654999\/haley-stevens-michigan-senate-race-black-voters-abdul-el-sayed\/\">HALEY STEVENS BETS ON BLACK SUPPORT IN MICHIGAN PRIMARY HOMESTRETCH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevens and el Sayed have remained within single-digit margins of each other in most polling, except for several that have had el Sayed leading by double digits, which were sponsored by PACs supporting his candidacy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will take on Trump-endorsed GOP candidate Mike Rogers, a former U.S. congressman. Cook Political Report <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/senate\/race\/488606\">rates<\/a> the race as a toss-up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whitmer backs Stevens in Michigan Senate primary race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2634936,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-collage-7p9ife6li-1784926667486-e1784930949860.jpg?1784917920&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34059,55722,37975,34723,12025],"class_list":["post-2634934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-2024","tag-haley-stevens","tag-michigan-politics","tag-senate-race","tag-whitmer"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-collage-7p9ife6li-1784926667486-e1784930949860.jpg?1784917920&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2634934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2634934"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2634934\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2634943,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2634934\/revisions\/2634943"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2634936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2634934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2634934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2634934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}