What to watch in the Aug. 4 primaries: Michigan Senate race tests Democrats’ path forward

AP News ^ | August 4, 2026 | MIKE CATALINI and NICHOLAS RICCARDI

[MinorityRepublican]

Michigan will offer the country its clearest gauge yet on the direction of the Democratic Party, as primary voters in the battleground state choose between a progressive standard-bearer and an establishment-backed candidate.

Although there have been similar contests around the country, this one will hold extra weight because Michigan is a key state in presidential races. Abdul El-Sayed, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, is up against four-term Rep. Haley Stevens, supported by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

Democratic and Republican voters in Michigan are also deciding on their parties’ nominees to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

In Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington state, voters are settling primaries in a host of races, including a key rematch between Democrats in a Missouri House contest. Also in play is whether Democrats, who tried to redraw districts in Virginia to their advantage but were rebuffed by the state supreme court, can pick candidates who can defeat Republicans in the fall.

Test time for Democrats in Michigan’s Senate race

The choice between El-Sayed and Stevens has become a focal point for Democrats this year, and the race has become bitter. Whoever wins will need to bring splintered factions back into the fold to beat Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman.

The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring, and Democrats are under pressure to defend it to preserve their chance of winning control of the chamber.

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TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: powertothepeepholes; primaries

[Gene Eric]

the Rats will vote for what they perceive to be their greatest strength — Islam

[MinorityRepublican]

Islam is the strong horse.

The collapse of Europe is coming shortly.

[jimpick]

Heading out to vote in a few minutes. Polls open in a half hour or so.

My wife is terrified of Islam. Not sure how others feel. But if they are like her there is no way he wins.

[devane617]

“My wife is terrified of Islam. “

Why do so many of the odd-ball Progressive types support this guy? Like LBTQ%^GVC*%$DXGHNNV types? Your wife is 100% correct to be terrified.

[cyclotic]

She should vote for Haley.

Michigan has open primaries.

[jimpick]

“””She should vote for Haley.”””

I think she would stab herself in the eye before she votes on that side of the ticket.

Just got back. Was the third in line when the polls opened. About 12 people in line waiting but about 20 as soon as the doors opened.

[cyclotic]

I have the same visceral revulsion to voting for a Democrat. Fortunately I live on a closed primary state.

But I would hold my nose and vote for Steven to stop a Muslim Communist.

[PermaRag]

“Michigan has open primaries.”

And since the GOP has just about literally NOTHING to vote for on their side, a ton of Republicans should be tactically invading Democrat primaries today in order to select the easiest candidate to defeat in November.

It makes perfect sense, but there are a couple of problems with that approach:

1. While Democrat voters in similar situations pollute GOP primaries all the time (South Carolina leaps to mind) to select the candidate of their choice, GOP voters return the favor extremely rarely. And even if our voters really were that smart....

2. Just like the original version in 2008, the 2026 version of “Operation Chaos” would be likely to result in a dismal failure.

If Republican primary voters in Michigan choose to attempt to sabotage the Democrat primaries for Senate and for some other offices (CD-7 is the most obvious one — where a radical leftist a la El Sayed is running), they may feel smug about causing a real nutjob to win the primary.... and then won’t feel quite so smug when that nutjob actually prevails in November.