Michigan Senate Race 2026

Compare candidates running in this Michigan federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Mike Rogers

Party: Republican

Mallory McMorrow

Party: Democrat

Abdul El-Sayed

Party: Democrat

Haley Stevens

Party: Democrat

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Michigan Senate Race

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 6, 2026
📊Polling+3 McMorrow
Latest general election polls show competitive matchups. Emerson (Jan 2025): McMorrow leads Rogers 46-43; Stevens leads Rogers 47-42; El-Sayed ties Rogers 43-43. Glengariff (Jan 2026): Stevens leads Rogers 44-42; McMorrow trails Rogers 42.4-45.7; El-Sayed trails Rogers 41.6-48.
Source: Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media2025-01-25
46%
McMorrow
43%
Rogers
toss up★ Flip PotentialSabato

Michigan is one of two Democratic-held Senate seats in states Donald Trump won in 2024, making it critical for Republican flip opportunities and Democratic defense in a midterm environment favorable to the party out of power.

Mike RogersR
Mallory McMorrowD
Abdul El-SayedD
Haley StevensD

Summary

Michael J. Rogers (born June 2, 1963) is a former U.S. Representative from Michigan's 8th Congressional District (2001-2015) and former chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (2011-2015). Before Congress, he served in the Michigan State Senate (1995-2000) and U.S. Army (1985-1989). After leaving Congress, he worked as CNN national security commentator and executive producer for 'Declassified: Untold Stories of American Spies.' He also worked as FBI special agent specializing in organized crime and public corruption (1989-1994). Currently lives in White Lake Township, Michigan with his second wife Kristi (married 2010).

Mallory Ann McMorrow (born August 23, 1986) is a Michigan State Senator representing the 8th District since 2019, serving as Senate Majority Whip since January 2023. A New Jersey native who moved to Michigan, she previously worked in industrial design. McMorrow rose to national prominence in April 2022 after a viral floor speech defending herself and LGBTQ+ youth against baseless accusations from a Republican colleague, earning over one million views. She delivered a notable speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention highlighting Project 2025. Published 'Hate Won't Win: Find Your Power and Leave This Place Better Than We Found It' in March 2025.

Abdul El-Sayed (born 1984) is a physician, epidemiologist, and former public health official. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University and obtained a doctorate from Oxford University after being named a Rhodes Scholar. He previously served as Detroit's Health Director (2015-2018) and Wayne County Health Director (2023-2025). He is also host of the podcast 'America Dissected' and author of 'Healing Politics: A Doctor's Journey into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic' and 'Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide.' He is Muslim and was born and raised in Southeast Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents.

Haley Stevens (born June 24, 1983) is a U.S. Representative from Michigan's 11th Congressional District since 2019, representing most of urbanized Oakland County including Detroit's northern suburbs. She previously worked in President Obama's administration as chief of staff for the Auto Task Force and later directed the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute in Chicago. Stevens earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science and philosophy and Master of Arts in social policy and philosophy from American University.

Campaign Promises

Economy
  • Bring manufacturing jobs back to Michigan
  • Protect Social Security for seniors
  • Lower costs of gas, groceries, and prescription drugs
Defense
  • Strengthen national security and counter cyber threats
Education
  • Improve education and school focus
Other
  • New leadership and break from Washington establishment
  • Support new mothers
Economy
  • Cost-of-living relief
  • Anti-surveillance pricing legislation
Healthcare
  • Healthcare affordability without Medicare for All
Environment
  • Regulate data centers responsibly
Healthcare
  • Medicare for All - single-payer healthcare
Economy
  • Money out of politics, money in your pocket
  • Fight billionaire influence
Justice
  • Abolish ICE
Environment
  • Clean air and water, affordable housing
Healthcare
  • Lower healthcare costs and expand affordable healthcare
Economy
  • Strengthen manufacturing economy
Education
  • Support quality public education and skills training
Justice
  • Reform ICE and redirect funding

Key Issue Positions

National Security
Strong on cybersecurity and intelligence
Chaired House Intelligence Committee; specializes in cyber threats from foreign adversaries
Healthcare
Critical of Affordable Care Act
Has repeatedly voted to repeal Obamacare; opposed drug price negotiations
Social Security and Medicare
Supported privatization proposals
In early 2000s backed allowing part of Social Security tax into private investment funds; supported Medicare voucher system
Gun Rights
Strong NRA supporter
Received A ratings from NRA; opposed gun safety legislation aimed at preventing school shootings
Abortion
Pro-life but respects Michigan amendment
Says won't take steps in Washington to change Michigan's constitutional abortion rights protection
Trump Alignment
Strong Trump supporter
Previously criticized Trump in 2022 but shifted to full alignment after launching Senate campaign
Labor Rights
Anti-union positions
Voted with AFL-CIO only 11% of time in Congress; supported eliminating wage protections for construction workers
Healthcare
Public option, not Medicare for All
Believes single-payer too big a challenge for 360+ million people; wants options and choice, not single system
Immigration
ICE reform, not abolition
Michigan is border state needing immigration enforcement; ICE should protect borders but not terrorize communities
Israel-Palestine
Two-state solution; defensive aid to Israel
Maintains support for Israel's security; advocates Block the Bombs; visited Israel in 2023; in October 2025 said Gaza legally met genocide definition but distanced herself from response
Billionaires and Wealth
Billionaires can exist if they give back
Cited Mark Cuban as example; believes in meritocracy and giving back to society; not as aggressive on wealth redistribution as El-Sayed
Campaign Finance
No corporate PAC money in Senate race
Raised $3.9 million from 60,000 individual donors; more than half from donations $200 or less; outraised other candidates with zero corporate PAC dollars
Data Centers and Surveillance
Strict regulation and transparency
Voted for state tax breaks in late 2024 but now proposing federal ban on non-disclosure agreements; requires developers to pay own infrastructure costs
Healthcare
Strongest Medicare for All advocate
Only Democratic primary candidate openly supporting single-payer universal healthcare; wrote book on healthcare policy
Immigration
Abolish ICE
Believes ICE should be completely abolished, not reformed; advocates enforcement at border without paramilitary force
Foreign Policy and Palestine
Strong Palestinian rights advocate; critical of U.S. military involvement
Called Israel's assault on Palestinians genocide in August 2025; opposes U.S. military aid to foreign countries generally; calls Gaza war public health catastrophe
Wealth and Inequality
Against billionaire existence
Unequivocally stated billionaires should not exist; contrasts with McMorrow who said they can exist if they give back
Campaign Finance
No corporate PAC money
Only candidate refusing all corporate donations; distinguishes himself as accountable only to working people
Healthcare
Supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act rather than Medicare for All
Want everyone who can be covered under ACA to get covered; focuses on expanding rather than replacing current system
Immigration
Calls for ICE overhaul but not abolition
Signed onto articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem; wants accountability and complete overhaul of ICE
Israel-Palestine
Strong pro-Israel supporter
Strongly opposes BDS movement and calls it attempts to delegitimize Israel's right to exist; describes Israel as democracy and beacon of hope; voted to sanction International Criminal Court over Gaza arrest warrants
Manufacturing and Economy
Supports USMCA and manufacturing investment
Worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass USMCA; authored American Manufacturing Leadership Act

Top Donors

Great Lakes Conservatives Fund (Super PAC)
$6 million+Super PAC
Super PAC exclusively supporting Rogers; ended Q4 2025 with ~$6 million
Bluff Point Associates Corp (Private equity)
$100,000Super PAC donor
Largest donor to Great Lakes Conservatives Fund in Q4 2025
Ed Adler estate
$86,000Super PAC donor
Donation reported after deceased donor's death; raised questions about campaign practices
Koch Inc. (PAC)
Not specifiedIndustry PAC
Part of Charles Koch's political network
Toyota (PAC)
Not specifiedIndustry PAC
AT&T (PAC)
Not specifiedIndustry PAC
Amgen (PAC)
Not specifiedIndustry PAC
Campaign committee
$3.5 millionCampaign fund
Ended 2025 with most cash on hand of any Senate candidate; raised nearly $2 million in Q4 2025 alone
Individual donations
$3.9 million+Small Donor
From 60,000 individual donors; more than half $200 or less; outraised all other candidates on both sides with zero corporate PAC dollars
Individual donations
$5 million+Small Donor
Exclusively individual donors; zero corporate PAC contributions
Bernie Sanders endorsement network
No direct contributionorganization
Sanders endorsed El-Sayed early; cited his healthcare expertise
AIPAC (indirect)
$9 million+Super PAC
AIPAC solicited contributions for Stevens' campaign in September 2025 fundraising email
Cigna (PAC)
Not specifiedIndustry PAC
Health care corporation PAC
DaVita (PAC)
Not specifiedIndustry PAC
Kidney dialysis services giant
Lynn Schusterman
$7,000Individual
Billionaire philanthropist who has given heavily to Michigan Democrats
Eliot Weinstein
$7,500Individual
Co-creator of Cards Against Humanity

Contradictions

Claim: Rogers is Trump-backed conservative fighter
Contradiction: In November 2022 posted on X that Republicans should dump Trump: 'It's time to move forward'; deleted this post after launching Senate campaign
Source: American Journal News, March 2024
Claim: Rogers won 2024 Senate race
Contradiction: Narrowly lost to Elissa Slotkin 48.3% to 48.6% despite Trump winning state by 80,000 votes; Rogers underperformed Trump by 123,000 votes
Source: Detroit News, November 2024
Claim: Rogers respects election results
Contradiction: Without evidence claimed in October 2025 that a van showed up with ballots to swing 2024 election against him; nearly a year after conceding and with no initial fraud claims
Source: Michigan Advance, November 10, 2025
Claim: Rogers won't change Social Security/Medicare
Contradiction: In 2000s backed privatizing part of Social Security; voted for Medicare voucher system in 2011; as recently as 2023 said retirement needed rethinking
Source: Michigan Independent citing voting record and recent statements
Claim: McMorrow positions herself as crusader against surveillance pricing in 2026
Contradiction: Voted for state data center tax breaks in late 2024 that critics say enable surveillance-pricing infrastructure
Source: Jacobin, April 2026
Claim: McMorrow says she won't take corporate money
Contradiction: Has accepted corporate money in past state senate campaigns; only refusing in 2026 Senate race
Claim: McMorrow calls for new leadership and change
Contradiction: Privately urged Biden to step down in July 2024 and expressed need for new party leadership in March 2025
Source: Wikipedia, citing public reporting
Claim: McMorrow as pragmatist focused on working across aisle
Contradiction: Her husband Ray Wert remained listed as employed by Radiant technology company despite taking campaign role, raising conflict of interest questions
Source: Michigan Advance, March 2026
Claim: El-Sayed positions himself as anti-war and critical of U.S. foreign policy
Contradiction: Caught on leaked audio explaining he would avoid commenting on Iran's Ayatollah's death because people in Dearborn would be 'sad'
Source: Washington Free Beacon report, March 2026
Claim: El-Sayed presents himself as progressive champion
Contradiction: Deleted thousands of posts from X history where he showed support for defunding the police, suggesting political calculations
Source: CNN analysis reported November 2025
Claim: El-Sayed advocates for international law and human rights
Contradiction: When asked if world would be better off without Iran's ayatollah, gave non-answer 'word salad' response equating Iranian regime radicalism with Trump's MAGA movement
Source: Fox News, April 2, 2026
Claim: Stevens claims to oppose corporate influence and supports campaign finance reform
Contradiction: Has directly received $1.7 million from corporate PACs since 2018, including donations from Cigna and DaVita
Source: Bridge Michigan reporting on 2026 fundraising
Claim: Stevens touts grassroots support with 95% small donations
Contradiction: At least 93% of her Q3 2025 fundraising came from out-of-state donors; received $7,500 from Cards Against Humanity co-creator
Source: Bridge Michigan February 1, 2026

What Opponents Say

Haley Stevens campaign

Rogers lost in 2024 fair and square and will lose again

Responding to Rogers' baseless 2024 election fraud claims

Abdul El-Sayed campaign

Rogers voted to raise Rx drug costs 60 times as congressman

El-Sayed criticized Rogers' record on drug price negotiations

Democratic operatives

Rogers' billionaire backers propping up flailing campaign

Michigan Democratic Party statement about Super PAC support from Koch network

Abdul El-Sayed

McMorrow is not committed to Medicare for All and is too moderate

El-Sayed criticized McMorrow's healthcare plan as insufficient on Twitter

Jacobin Magazine

McMorrow is cynical phony populist who talks left but acts right

Jacobin criticized McMorrow for making viral anti-surveillance pricing video while having voted for data center tax breaks as state senator

Mike Rogers campaign

El-Sayed sympathizes with terrorist regimes and aligns with Iranian regime messaging

Rogers cited leaked audio and El-Sayed's refusal to condemn Ayatollah; claimed this disqualifies him

Haley Stevens campaign

El-Sayed is too far left on healthcare and other issues

Stevens and McMorrow both oppose Medicare for All; Stevens has positioned herself as electability candidate

Republican operatives

El-Sayed platforms antisemitic commentators like Hasan Piker

Announced April 7 rally with commentator accused of antisemitism and downplaying October 7

Abdul El-Sayed

Stevens doesn't truly support progressive causes and is establishment-backed

El-Sayed criticized Stevens for accepting corporate PAC donations and AIPAC support

Mallory McMorrow

Stevens represents same-old Washington approach

McMorrow has called for new leadership and implicitly criticized establishment Democrats that Stevens represents

Mike Rogers campaign

Stevens has awkward nature and poor political instincts

Republicans mocked Stevens extensively on social media using 'Poochie' nickname and other tactics

Endorsements

Donald Trumpindividual
Senate Majority Leader John Thuneindividual
NRSC Chairman Tim Scottindividual
U.S. Rep. Jack Bergmanindividual
U.S. Rep. Tim Walbergindividual
AFP Action (Americans for Prosperity)organization
Joe Bidenindividual
J Streetorganization
Democratic state legislatorsorganization
Mayors of Livonia, Lansing, and Grand Rapidsindividual
U.S. Senator Bernie Sandersindividual
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezindividual
Linda Sarsourindividual
Justice Democratsorganization
The Nation magazineorganization
Citizens Against AIPAC Corruptionorganization
Eastern Upper Peninsula Solidarityorganization
Democratic Senate Leadership (Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, DSCC)organization
AIPACorganization
Democratic Majority for Israelorganization
Hillary Scholtenindividual
Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucusorganization
Former Speaker Joe Tateindividual