Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens has endorsed Abdul El-Sayed, her former opponent in the state's closely contested Democratic Senate primary, despite their political differences. Speaking on Fox News' "America's Newsroom" on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Stevens described her endorsement as an acceptance of the Democratic voters' will, stating, "That's called democracy. You don't sign up for a Democratic Party to be salty grapes and... just continue to hold a grudge."

Stevens reaffirmed her identity as a "Zionist Democrat" and acknowledged that candidates sharing her political stance have struggled in recent Democratic primaries. She also distinguished El-Sayed from socialism, noting that he had rejected the label. Stevens herself warned about the ideology, saying, "My Democratic opponent, now the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, has disavowed socialism. I think we all should. It's dangerous."

El-Sayed has become a prominent figure on the party's progressive flank, though he rejects the socialism label. The endorsement comes amid a shifting Democratic landscape and ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with key races unfolding in Michigan.

Other notable figures, such as Senator Gary Peters, have also taken sides in the high-stakes Michigan Senate primary.

Sources