Michigan Senate Primary: El-Sayed vs. House Member Backed by Outside Spending

Sen. Bernie Sanders told a Detroit rally Saturday that Michigan's Democratic Senate primary pits Abdul El-Sayed against wealthy donors rather than Rep. Haley Stevens. "In all due respect to Haley Stevens, everybody knows that this is not an election between her and Abdul," Sanders said at the Detroit Opera House.

"This is an election between Abdul and the billionaire class. " Sanders said the billionaire class has already spent roughly $50 million against El-Sayed with two weeks remaining before the Aug. 4 primary.

He asked supporters why the richest people in the country are spending tens of millions of dollars to defeat the candidate. AdImpact data show super PACs backing Stevens plan to spend about $26.9 million on television ads in the final five weeks, compared with roughly $2.1 million for groups supporting El-Sayed.

Sanders stated that outside groups have outspent El-Sayed's campaign by a 12-to-1 margin.

El-Sayed has received endorsements from Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez. Stevens holds the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and retiring Sen. Gary Peters. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow ended her campaign earlier this month, leaving the two candidates in a head-to-head race.

Stevens has represented Michigan's 11th Congressional District since 2019 and previously served on the Obama administration's auto industry task force. The primary winner is expected to face Republican Mike Rogers in November.