Michigan voters are heading to the polls Tuesday for primary elections that will determine nominees for key Senate, gubernatorial, and House races, potentially influencing the balance of power in Congress.
The Democratic primary for the state's open Senate seat is a central contest, featuring public health official Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. Representative Haley Stevens. The race has been marked by internal party debates over the U.S. relationship with Israel, a significant issue given Michigan's sizable Jewish and Arab-American populations. El-Sayed has criticized Stevens for her support of continued weapons sales to Israel, while Stevens has questioned El-Sayed's response to an antisemitic attack on a local synagogue and preschool.
Stevens and El-Sayed are competing to replace incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. The eventual Democratic nominee will likely face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers.
In the race for governor, Michigan's Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is expected to secure the Democratic nomination over Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. Benson has gained national recognition for her role in defending Michigan's 2020 election results. On the Republican side, U.S. Representative John James is seeking the nomination against businessman Perry Johnson, with an endorsement from former President Donald Trump potentially boosting his chances. If James wins, he would be the first Black Republican governor in the U.S. Both candidates are running to succeed term-limited Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Several House races are also drawing attention. Michigan's 7th Congressional District, considered a toss-up by Cook Political Report, is contested by freshman Republican Rep. Tom Barrett. He faces competition from three Democrats: progressive activist William Lawrence, former Obama military aide Matt Maasdam, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink. Democratic leaders have expressed concerns about Lawrence's progressive platform potentially hindering their chances in the district.
In the 8th District, Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet faces a strong challenge from Navy veteran Amir Hassan, who has received Trump's backing. Elsewhere, in Detroit's heavily Democratic 13th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar faces a challenge from state Rep. Donovan McKinney, who is supported by the Democratic Socialists of America. This follows a trend of incumbent Democrats losing primaries to DSA-backed candidates this year.