Michigan Democratic Senate Primary Remains Close as El-Sayed Holds Slight Lead Over Stevens

The race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Michigan stayed undecided early Wednesday, with Abdul El-Sayed holding a narrow lead over U.S. Representative Haley Stevens. With more than 95 percent of votes counted around 5 a.m. local time, El-Sayed received 49.5 percent and Stevens received 45.78 percent.

Both candidates addressed supporters and indicated that counting could extend through the day. Stevens stated that the closeness of the contest had been anticipated. The winner will face former U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee who ran unopposed in his primary, in the November general election for the seat held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.

In the same state, Jocelyn Benson secured the Democratic nomination for governor. She will face Republican John James in November to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. James received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

William Lawrence won a three-candidate Democratic primary for Michigan’s Seventh Congressional District. Lawrence, a community organizer, will challenge Republican incumbent Tom Barrett in the general election. Barrett flipped the district in 2024.

In Washington state, U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez advanced from the primary for her House seat. She will face state Senator John Braun, who received support from Trump, in November. Washington uses a top-two primary system in which the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party.

In Missouri, U.S. Representative Wesley Bell won the Democratic primary in the St. Louis area, defeating former U.S. Representative Cori Bush. Bell is the Democratic nominee in the general election for that district.

Cindy Holscher won the Democratic nomination for governor of Kansas. She defeated two other candidates and will face Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson in November. Masterson received support from Trump.

Republican U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards of North Carolina withdrew from his reelection campaign after a House ethics committee report found he had fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment by providing gifts and attention to two young female staff members. The bipartisan panel determined there was substantial reason to believe Edwards violated House rules. Edwards stated he would complete his current term.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a petition for a referendum on a congressional redistricting plan. Hoskins said the petition was invalid because redistricting plans cannot be subject to referendums under state law. The plan, supported by Trump, alters the boundaries of the Fifth Congressional District, which has been held by Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver. The group People Not Politicians, which gathered more than 300,000 signatures, said it would challenge the decision in court. Republicans currently hold six of Missouri’s eight House seats.

U.S. Representative Max Miller of Ohio stated he would continue his reelection campaign despite calls from some Republicans to resign following allegations of domestic abuse made by his former father-in-law, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno. Miller has been accused of holding a gun to his ex-wife’s head and causing injury to their child. Miller married Emily Moreno in 2022.

U.S. Representative Haley Stevens has described herself as a pragmatic problem-solver during the Senate campaign. She has represented Michigan’s Eleventh District since 2019. Stevens received endorsements from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Senator Gary Peters. Outside spending in the race included support from groups affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist who previously held health director positions in Detroit and Wayne County, has connected U.S. policy on conflicts including the Israel-Gaza war to domestic economic issues. El-Sayed ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor of Michigan in 2018. He stated that voter frustration with established political figures has increased since that earlier campaign.

The Michigan Senate primary drew attention because the general election outcome will affect party control of the Senate. El-Sayed and Stevens each said additional ballots remained to be counted.