Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced her endorsement of Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate on Friday, adding high-profile support to a contest that has become a battleground between the party’s moderate establishment and its progressive wing.
Whitmer made the announcement through a video shared on X, saying, “As governor, I have one strategy: Get things done. Just like me, Haley will do whatever it takes to get things done for the people of Michigan.”
Along with the endorsement, Whitmer was also expected to join Stevens at a campaign event in Detroit on Friday.
Stevens finds herself in a closely contested race for the Democratic nomination against Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate who has earned the backing of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Whoever wins the August 4th Democratic primary will then face Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election this November. The seat is considered a critical battleground, currently held by two-term Democrat Gary Peters, who is not seeking re-election.
