2026 Midterms State of Play: Key races unfold as Stevens, El-Sayed battle in Michigan
Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed battle in Michigan's Democratic senate primary as progressive and establishment wings clash over party direction.
TL;DR
- Primaries were held in five states on Tuesday, with Michigan's Democratic Senate primary being a marquee race.
- The Michigan primary features Rep. Haley Stevens against former public health official Abdul El-Sayed.
- The winner of the Michigan primary will face Republican Mike Rogers in a competitive general election that could influence control of the Senate.
- The Michigan race is seen as a proxy fight over the Democratic Party's direction, with Stevens backed by the establishment and El-Sayed by progressives.
- Other states holding primaries included Kansas, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington.
- Several races, particularly in Washington, remained outstanding due to mail-in ballots.
- Washington uses a top-two primary system where the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of party.