Rep. Haley Stevens Enters Michigan’s Senate Race
Rep. Haley Maria Stevens, a former staff member on Barack Obama’s campaign, is now the highest-ranking individual to declare their candidacy for the 2026 Senate race, which is anticipated to be fiercely contested.
WASHINGTON — On April 22, Rep. Haley Maria Stevens (D-Mich.) officially announced her bid for the U.S. Senate in the upcoming 2026 elections.
Stevens, who previously worked as a political activist and was involved in Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, has been serving in Congress since 2018. She represents Michigan’s 11th Congressional District, which includes Oakland County and suburbs north of Detroit.
In a post shared on social media, Stevens revealed her intention to enter the Democratic primary for the seat currently occupied by senior Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who will step down at the conclusion of the 119th Congress after serving two terms.
“During the Great Recession, when Michigan’s auto industry was on the brink, I felt compelled to take action for my state,” said Stevens in a video that showcased her Michigan roots and highlighted her first car, manufactured by the local automobile industry.
“We’re all experiencing the burden of rising costs. Everyday groceries are increasing in price, and housing has never been more costly. …It would be a privilege to advocate for you in the Senate.”
Stevens is stepping into a highly competitive race in a key battleground state, which has a history of voting for the eventual winner in U.S. presidential elections. In 2016 and 2024, Michigan supported President Donald Trump, while it played a pivotal role in Joe Biden’s victory over Trump in 2020.
Related Stories
The Democratic primary already features state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) and Dr. Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, a public health expert and community organizer representing Michigan’s significant Arab-American population.
El-Sayed previously finished second in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary, which was secured by now-Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who will not be running in this election. El-Sayed has received an endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a leading progressive figure in national politics.
On the Republican front, former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) has declared his candidacy. Rogers previously ran for the U.S. Senate in the 2024 election, aiming to succeed retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), but narrowly lost to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) by a mere 0.34 percentage points in a state that Trump won by 1.42 percentage points.
Stevens has made it a key element of her campaign to focus on Trump. The forthcoming election is expected to take place in 2026, traditionally a “midterm” year (i.e., halfway through a presidential term), a time that has historically favored the opposition party in Congress amid dissatisfaction with the sitting president.
“His chaos and reckless tariffs are endangering tens of thousands of jobs in Michigan,” noted Stevens, addressing a crucial issue in the state.
Although Michigan has seen factories relocate overseas and competes with China in certain vehicle manufacturing, it also exports a multitude of manufactured goods globally, making its economy highly reactive to tariffs.
Michigan remains the U.S. state with the highest trade volume with Canada, where Trump has imposed substantial tariffs. The president defends these tariffs as vital for revitalizing manufacturing in the U.S., especially in Michigan.
As of publication time, the campaigns for Stevens, McMorrow, and El-Sayed had not responded to requests for comment.
