Michigan's Democratic primary for an open U.S. Senate seat remained too close to call early Wednesday, with progressive former Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed holding a narrow lead over U.S. Representative Haley Stevens. Axios reported, citing Associated Press figures, that El-Sayed led 48.6% to 47.4% with about 95% of votes counted at 6 a.m. local time after Tuesday's election.
The unresolved contest will determine who faces former Republican congressman Mike Rogers in November. Rogers advanced without significant opposition, while Democratic Senator Gary Peters is retiring. Because Michigan backed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, both parties view the open seat as central to the struggle for control of the closely divided Senate.
El-Sayed built support among progressive voters and ran as an outsider critical of billionaire influence, large data centers and U.S. policy toward Israel. Stevens, a sitting House member, presented herself as an experienced and more broadly electable candidate. The AP reported that a political network aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its affiliates spent more than $30 million supporting Stevens, making campaign money a defining issue.
Late-arriving results from populous Wayne County, which includes Detroit and has Michigan's largest share of Black residents, narrowed El-Sayed's advantage. State election officials said early in-person voting nearly doubled from the 2024 primary, while more than 1.3 million mail ballots had been cast by Tuesday. Another 139,000 people voted early in person, and 28,000 registered and voted on election day.
Other Michigan results showed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson winning the Democratic nomination for governor. Community organizer William Lawrence defeated former ambassador Bridget Brink and former Navy officer Matt Maasdam in the Democratic primary for the competitive 7th Congressional District, setting up a November contest with Republican incumbent Tom Barrett.
The Senate count now turns on remaining ballots and local reporting procedures, with no official nominee until news organizations project a winner or election authorities complete the tally. Whichever Democrat prevails will face an immediate task of uniting the party's moderate and progressive wings for a general election that could influence the balance of power in Washington.
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