Michigan US Senate race: El-Sayed goes on attack in debate with Stevens, McMorrow

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. — The three Democratic candidates for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat ― Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed and Mallory McMorrow ― clashed Thursday in the closing hours of the Mackinac Policy Conference, debating issues including eliminating the filibuster, taxing billionaires and weighing U.S. military action abroad.

El-Sayed maintained the most combative posture against his two rivals, including during an early exchange when the candidates were asked about what influence their campaign donors have over their votes and actions as elected officials.

The moderator singled out Stevens for taking money from the pro-Israel lobby group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, and asking, "what that money means and what it buys?"

Stevens, a four-term congresswoman from Birmingham, didn't address the question, saying she was proud to have support from retired teachers, grocery clerks and factory workers. She then blamed Republicans in Congress for not backing campaign finance reform that she supported in the U.S. House.

"Well, look, my campaign for U.S. Senate is a love letter to our state," Stevens said. "Campaigns are about movements of ideas, and I articulate positions of freedom and democracy and what Michigan needs to succeed at the global stage."

El-Sayed interjected: "You're also not answering the question."

The former Wayne County health director from Ann Arbor, barreled on, saying the AIPAC money "buys $3.5 billion sent to a foreign military that could be used here to give glasses here, to provide health care here, to build schools here ― that's where our money should be used."

El-Sayed also took shots at McMorrow, a state senator from Royal Oak, accusing her of voting to give data centers tax breaks in the Legislature.

Speaking with reporters later, El-Sayed said his reference was to McMorrow’s vote for legislation the Democratic-led Legislature approved in 2024 that would exempt large-scale data center developments from the state sales and use tax. No companies have applied for the exemption yet.

“Let’s be clear: Who benefits from data centers?” El-Sayed told reporters. “The richest corporations in the history of the world. Like, they don’t need our tax breaks.”

El-Sayed also said he's the only candidate on stage who hadn't taken money from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan during a separate exchange on health care cost hikes.

"All of these issues go back to how we finance campaigns," he added.

The candidates agreed on abolishing the legislative filibuster ― the 60-vote super-majority required to pass most Senate legislation ― though Stevens then seemed to backtrack and argue it should have been used to block President Donald Trump's massive domestic policy bill last summer.

"Wait, wait. You said you would get rid of the filibuster, but you also want to use it. Which one is it?" moderator Stephen Henderson said.

"I'm saying that I want to change the rules," Stevens replied, denying the stumble. "That tax bill should not have happened."

Michigan's Democratic U.S. Senate primary is one of the most competitive contests in the country this year after U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, opted not to seek reelection to another six-year term.

The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will likely face former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake Township in the November general election, with national Republicans targeting the seat as a top pick-up opportunity.

“Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow and Abdul El-Sayed are in a messy primary race to out-radical each other for the approval of the far-left fringe," said Greg Manz, a senior communications adviser to the Michigan GOP.“Michiganders are not looking for crazy — Great Lakes State voters want commonsense leadership, safe neighborhoods, lower costs, and a senator who actually represents Michigan values. That’s why Mike Rogers is ahead in every general election poll.”

Candidates address the issue of rising antisemitism

The Democratic candidates addressed complaints about rising antisemitism within their own party.

McMorrow recounted the story of someone yelling an antisemitic slur at her Jewish husband during the Democratic state convention last month as he was walking with their 5-year-old.

"We need to be able to state very clearly that what the Netanyahu government is doing is wrong, that the violence needs to end, that we need to bring about long-term peace and security for Palestinians and for Israelis, and that ... turning into an anti-American Jewish message is dangerous," McMorrow said, referencing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and fighting in Gaza with Hamas.

El-Sayed, who is Muslim, said antisemitism and Islamophobia often go "hand in hand," both linked to the "scourge of White supremacy."

"I think it's absolutely critical for us to differentiate between love, respect and admiration for Judaism and the Jewish people, and a continued policy that has us sending our money to a foreign government," El-Sayed said. "We can walk and chew gum at the same time."

Stevens said people are scared amid rising political violence and extremism and the attack on Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, which is in her district.

“I am leading on combating antisemitism in a bipartisan way. That does not have to be a partisan thing," Stevens said. "I am a proud Democrat who has been clear and consistent in a tough time about a horrible, brutal war.”

Stevens waited briefly for press questions after the debate then left for her room without taking any.

When asked why Stevens didn’t answer the question on AIPAC on stage, her campaign adviser, Caitlin Legacki, said she believed Stevens had a hard time hearing.

“She’s been very consistent about her positions, unlike other people in this race,” Legacki said.

“She supports freedom democracy, she supports our allies. And she’s been very clear about that. And I think they don’t expect anything in return, and they’re not going to get anything in return.”

Two of the Democrats on stage Thursday suggested that they'd support restoring the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit that GOP lawmakers in Congress ended in October.

"The lack of consistency here is absolutely killing us," McMorrow said. "We need to restore the tax credit to ensure that we are incentivizing, we are supporting our auto industry so that no matter what you want to drive ... that is an affordable thing for you to do."

El-Sayed also said he backs incentives to build the future of electric vehicles, but he also wants to ban corporate buy-backs and place labor representatives on corporate boards.

"What we don't have are the right incentives in place, and ... corporations who are incented to make long-range decisions," he said.

Stevens didn't directly address the question about EV regulations unwound by the Trump administration.

"The future of Michigan's auto industry has got to be made in Michigan by our incredible UAW, and that is where I have always long cast my vote," Stevens said.

"I actually don't really care what kind of car you drive, as long as it's Michigan-made and union-made, and that's a good thing."

What polling has shown about U.S. Senate primary race

Stevens held a narrow edge over former El-Sayed in a statewide poll of likely Michigan voters last month that showed the pair in a statistical toss-up. McMorrow trailed in third place, and 36% of voters indicated they were undecided.

Stevens garnered 25% of support from survey respondents, while El-Sayed came in at 23% and McMorrow finished 6 percentage points back at 16% among 500 likely voters in the August Democratic primary election.

The Lansing-based polling firm Glengariff Group conducted the survey April 17-19 for the Detroit Regional Chamber, which sponsors the Mackinac conference. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Among self-described "definite" primary voters, Stevens maintained a 2-point lead over El-Sayed and McMorrow moved up 2 percentage points to nearly 18%, so the three candidates all finished within 7.4 points of one another, according to the poll results.

---------