Stevens joins crowded 2026 Michigan Senate race as Peters steps aside
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., is making a bold entrance into the race for the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, taking aim at President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies. In a video announcing her candidacy, Stevens criticized the chaos and reckless tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which she claims are putting tens of thousands of Michigan jobs at risk, particularly in the auto industry.
Stevens highlighted her work to improve America’s auto industry during the Obama administration and included a clip of former President Barack Obama praising her efforts. She vows to protect Michigan’s manufacturing and auto industries, bring down costs for Michigan families, and stand up to what she calls the “Trump-Musk chaos agenda.”
Stevens is not the only Democrat vying for the Senate seat. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow and former Wayne County Health Department director Abdul El-Sayed have also thrown their hats in the ring. Progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed El-Sayed, adding to the competition in the Democratic primary.
On the Republican side, former Rep. Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost the Senate race in Michigan last year, has launched a second straight bid for the seat. He faces potential competition from longtime Michigan Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga, who has hinted at a possible run.
The Senate race in Michigan is expected to be one of the most high-profile and expensive contests of the 2026 election cycle. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is targeting the seat as part of its effort to expand the GOP’s majority in the chamber, along with seats in New Hampshire and Georgia.
As the race heats up, candidates from both parties are gearing up for what promises to be a closely watched and hotly contested battle for control of the crucial Great Lakes battleground state. Voters in Michigan will have a crucial decision to make as they weigh the candidates’ visions for the state’s future and the direction of the country.
