Michigan Democrats Face Internal Struggles Amid Far-left Tensions

WHO:

NY Post - Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed

The Detroit News - U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids

The Detroit News - U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham

The Detroit News - State Rep. Betsy Coffia, D-Traverse City

The Detroit News - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

The Detroit News - Democratic state Senate candidate Ivan Diaz of Grand Rapids

The Detroit News - U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly

The Detroit News - Democratic U.S. House candidate Matt Maasdam

The Detroit News - Will Lawrence, community organizer

The Detroit News - Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald

The Detroit News - Don Ufford, Democratic U.S. House candidate

The Detroit News - Eric Chung, U.S. House hopeful

The Detroit News - Former state Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint

The Detroit News - Jim Townsend, former state lawmaker

WHAT:

The Detroit News - Scholten did not directly answer whether she would support El-Sayed if he wins the primary.

The Detroit News - Scholten criticized El-Sayed for campaigning with Hasan Piker, who made controversial remarks about the Sept. 11 attacks.

The Detroit News - Ivan Diaz vowed on social media that "Hillary Scholten is getting primaried next cycle."

The Detroit News - Gov. Whitmer endorsed Stevens, which led to boos from El-Sayed supporters.

The Detroit News - The United Auto Workers endorsed El-Sayed and criticized Whitmer's endorsement of Stevens.

The Detroit News - Slotkin endorsed and campaigned for Matt Maasdam, who is in a three-way primary race.

The Detroit News - The National Republican Senatorial Committee denied funding El-Sayed's campaign.

The Detroit News - El-Sayed's campaign is being targeted by a $25 million ad campaign from the United Democracy Project.

The Detroit News - Eric Chung spent $489,000 in a two-week period leading up to the primary.

WHERE:

The Detroit News - Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Detroit News - Birmingham, Michigan

The Detroit News - Traverse City, Michigan

The Detroit News - Lansing, Michigan

The Detroit News - Genoa Township, Michigan

The Detroit News - Bloomfield Township, Michigan

The Detroit News - Macomb County, Michigan

WHEN:

The Detroit News - The Michigan Democratic primary election is scheduled for August 4, 2026.

The Detroit News - The endorsement of Stevens by Whitmer occurred last week.

The Detroit News - McDonald declined to say whether she would back Savit in the general election during an interview last week.

WHY:

The Detroit News - Scholten criticized El-Sayed due to his association with controversial figures and comments.

The Detroit News - Whitmer's endorsement of Stevens was met with backlash from progressive factions within the party.

HOW:

The Detroit News - El-Sayed's campaign is being targeted by ads that claim he is "too radical for Michigan."

The Detroit News - Eric Chung increased his campaign spending significantly in the lead-up to the primary.

(UPDATED July 27, 2026 00:15 UTC)

In a heated Michigan Senate race, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten has criticized fellow candidate Abdul El-Sayed for his association with controversial figures, while also refraining from committing to support him if he wins the primary. Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently endorsed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a move that drew boos from El-Sayed supporters and sparked backlash from progressive factions within the party. As the Michigan Democratic primary election approaches on August 4, 2026, El-Sayed's campaign faces a $25 million ad blitz from the United Democracy Project, labeling him as "too radical for Michigan."