Retiring Michigan Senator Endorses Representative in Democratic Primary

Retiring Sen. Gary Peters endorsed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary on Monday. The endorsement reverses his position from late May, when he told The Associated Press he planned to stay neutral. " Stevens, a four-term congresswoman, has centered her campaign on manufacturing, jobs and Michigan's auto industry.

Primary Field Narrows State Sen.

Mallory McMorrow ended her campaign weeks earlier, leaving Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed as the only major Democratic candidates. El-Sayed, a former Michigan health director who has never held elected office, has run on a platform that includes Medicare for All and campaign finance reform.

El-Sayed has received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Chris Van Hollen. The campaign has featured personal exchanges. El-Sayed has criticized Stevens over outside spending, including money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Stevens has accused El-Sayed of refusing to release his personal financial records.

The Democratic nominee will likely face Republican Mike Rogers, a former Michigan congressman running unopposed for his party's nomination. The race is expected to be among the nation's most expensive and closely watched Senate contests in November.

Michigan has taken on added importance for Democrats after turmoil in another key Senate race in Maine, where the Democratic nominee withdrew following a sexual assault allegation.