Haley Stevens

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a Grand Rapids campaign stop, pitching him as someone who will "stand up for Michigan" while casting Republican opponent Mike Rogers as likely to "fold for Donald Trump." The appearance marked a rare joint event given the two Democrats' rocky history, including a 2018 gubernatorial primary against each other and Whitmer's earlier endorsement of El-Sayed's primary rival.

The tightening race, which could help decide Senate control, later turned contentious during a televised Grand Rapids debate. Rogers accused El-Sayed of failing to acknowledge the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on its anniversary, calling it grounds for voter anger; El-Sayed said he had condemned the attack and accused Rogers of exploiting it as "political theater," a label Rogers then turned back on El-Sayed's campaign generally, including his use of a "doctor" title. El-Sayed has also faced attacks on his name and faith, including a Trump social media post calling him "Mohammed" and a "terrorist sympathizer," which he dismissed as distractions from economic issues like gas and grocery prices.

Michigan's Aug. 4 Democratic U.S. Senate primary polling missed by double digits, with pollster Adam Carlson's survey showing Abdul El-Sayed ahead of Haley Stevens by 19 points before El-Sayed won by roughly 1 point. Carlson and MSU pollster Matt Grossmann attribute the error largely to "differential nonresponse" — El-Sayed's supporters were far more likely to answer surveys than Stevens' supporters, even though demographic targets for age, gender, and region were hit accurately. Both note primary polling historically underperforms since voters lack the partisan cues available in general elections, and Michigan's lack of party registration adds further turnout uncertainty.

Looking to November, both analysts expect more reliable polling since partisanship strongly predicts general-election voting and Trump won't be on the ballot, though Trump's supporters' reluctance to answer surveys has been a separate complicating factor. Michigan's current Senate polls are mixed, with some showing Republican Mike Rogers ahead of El-Sayed and others showing El-Sayed leading. Both experts caution that polls indicate direction, not precise margins, and urge relying on averages rather than single surveys.

A coalition of Michigan rabbis and Jewish leaders has launched a petition urging Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee, to change his positions and rhetoric on Israel or risk losing Jewish voter support. The letter, signed by the president of the Michigan Board of Rabbis and 14 colleagues, does not name El-Sayed but is directed at him. It lists five "nonnegotiable" demands, including support for Jewish sovereignty in Israel, a two-state solution, and full participation of Jews in American political life.

El-Sayed, a vocal Israel critic who opposes its existence as a Jewish state, won a contentious primary against Rep. Haley Stevens after AIPAC's super PAC spent heavily against him. He has since apologized for past remarks and met with some rabbis, but reception remains mixed. His ties to streamer Hasan Piker have also drawn criticism. Michigan's Senate race, pitting El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers, is a key battleground that could determine Senate control as Sen. Gary Peters retires.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed drew national criticism, including from Rod Blagojevich, Ted Cruz and the Republican National Committee, after saying on TV he couldn't wait for the University of Michigan "to beat Ohio" in football. Critics framed it as proof he didn't know the sport, but Michigan politicians of both parties, including Fred Upton, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Justin Amash, along with the University of Michigan's own social accounts, have long used "beat Ohio" as shorthand for Ohio State.

Separately, U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin urged Michigan Democrats to back El-Sayed in his race against Republican Mike Rogers, without formally endorsing him earlier. Retiring Sen. Gary Peters completed his final "Thank You, Michigan" motorcycle tour, with Slotkin joining part of the ride. Rep. Tom Barrett and Democratic challenger Will Lawrence are set to debate Oct. 6 in the closely watched 7th Congressional District race, seen as pivotal to House control.

Minnesota voters went to the polls August 11 in Democratic primaries pitting moderate Rep. Angie Craig against progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for the open Senate seat left by retiring Sen. Tina Smith. Flanagan drew backing from Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ilhan Omar and Smith herself, while Craig secured establishment support from Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, Pete Buttigieg and Gwen Walz, and roughly doubled Flanagan's fundraising. The race centered on Craig's contested vote for the Laken Riley Act, which she has since disavowed, immigration enforcement after federal agents killed two protesters during "Operation Metro Surge," and clashing views on Israel and AIPAC funding. On the Republican side, Michele Tafoya leads a fundraising-heavy field including party-endorsed Adam Schwarze and Royce White, while Amy Klobuchar faces minimal opposition for governor against Republicans Mike Lindell (Trump-endorsed), Lisa Demuth and Kendall Qualls, as the GOP seeks its first statewide win since 2006.

Craig's departure also triggered a six-way Democratic primary for her open 2nd Congressional District seat. The results will help determine whether Democrats lean moderate or progressive heading into the midterms and test Republican hopes of ending their statewide losing streak. Prediction markets, which favored Flanagan and Craig-adjacent dynamics entering Election Day, are watching outcomes as an early signal for the broader 2026 fight over Congress and Minnesota's state government.