El-Sayed hits ‘bought off’ Stevens in debate as she says he’s ‘propped up’ by GOP

Published July 7, 2026 9:37pm ET



Michigan‘s Democratic Senate primary sharpened in a clash between the party’s progressive and establishment wings Tuesday night as former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed accused Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) of being “bought off” by corporate interests while Stevens argued el Sayed is being “propped up” by Republican spending.

The debate, hosted by WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, marked the first head-to-head matchup between the two remaining Democratic candidates after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow ended her campaign over the weekend, consolidating the race into a two-person contest to take on former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.

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