The race to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is shaping up to be a battle between different factions of the Democratic Party, as it still finds its way forward following bruising losses in 2024.
On the Democratic side, the Senate race in Michigan next year has already seen former Detroit Health Director Abdul El-Sayed and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow enter the field. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) is expected to announce her bid for the seat in the coming weeks, according to Politico.
The Democratic primary could become a litmus test for the future of the party in a key swing state and Senate contest. While both El-Sayed and Stevens have defended Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for his leadership, McMorrow has taken aim and called for new leadership for Senate Democrats.
McMorrow has based her campaign around a call for fresh leadership in Washington, D.C., while also likely taking a more progressive lane in the primary.
“We need new leaders. Because the same people who got us into this mess are not going to be the ones to get us out of it. I’m Mallory McMorrow. And yes, I am running for U.S. Senate because we don’t have a moment to wait,” she said in her announcement video.
El-Sayed has taken a progressive stance and received an endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). But he has not called for Schumer to be replaced as Democratic leader.
“Anybody who tells you that they’re going to unilaterally oppose one potential candidate without knowing who the alternative is, is either unnuanced or unsophisticated,” El-Sayed told Politico. “So I want to know who is available … who is actively seeking the leadership. I’ll make a decision from there.”
The report claiming Stevens is expected to announce her candidacy in the coming weeks also said she is not expected to take a progressive lane in the Democratic primary.
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT WHO BACKED UNCOMMITTED MOVEMENT JUMPS INTO MICHIGAN SENATE RACE
On the Republican side, former Rep. Mike Rogers announced he would seek the open Senate seat in 2026 after narrowly losing to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) in the 2024 election. He has been endorsed by both Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
The 2026 Senate race in Michigan is rated as a “toss up” by the Cook Political Report.