Detroit-area candidate Abdul El-Sayed turned the first televised Michigan Democratic Senate debate into a confrontation with his rivals, accusing them of accepting corporate money while positioning himself as the only true outsider in the race.
The debate took place Thursday at the Mackinac Policy Conference. El-Sayed, a former Wayne County Health, Human and Veteran Services director, faced off against Rep. Haley Stevens and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow. All three are competing in the August 4 primary to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
The corporate money fight
El-Sayed repeatedly challenged his rivals on campaign donations. He singled out Blue Cross Blue Shield as a source of corporate cash.
"Let's play a game. If you're on the stage and you have never taken a check from Blue Cross Blue Shield, raise your hand," El-Sayed said.
El-Sayed raised his hand. Neither Stevens nor McMorrow did.
"I don't think that it is enough to do this token thing. I think we need to regulate AI and AI corporations as public utilities. It is too dangerous to be left out of control of government," El-Sayed said when pressed on his stance on artificial intelligence regulation.
The former public health official also highlighted that his campaign has not accepted support from AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Stevens has received donations from the super PAC in past House campaigns.
"I'm the only candidate who didn't ask AIPAC for their support," El-Sayed said.
Stevens defends her record
Stevens, a fourth-term congresswoman representing a district just outside Detroit, largely avoided direct attacks. She focused on her legislative record.
"The people of Michigan deserve a functional Congress. I write bills, I pass bills on behalf of the people of Michigan," Stevens said.
A newly formed outside group called Center for Democratic Priorities Inc. recently reserved over $5 million in television advertising backing Stevens. AIPAC denied affiliation with the group, according to The Detroit News.
Stevens declined to take reporter questions after the debate.
McMorrow pushes for unity
McMorrow took a middle path. She emphasized unity while still challenging El-Sayed on his ability to govern.
"There is more that unites us than divides us," McMorrow said in closing remarks.
She pushed back when El-Sayed said he would choose "having a message" over donors.
"You actually need to know how to deliver on that message," McMorrow said.
All three agree on ending the filibuster
One issue brought the candidates together. All three said they would vote to eliminate the Senate filibuster.
El-Sayed called the rule a way for lawmakers to avoid taking votes.
"It allows senators who don't want to take our vote to hide behind the filibuster of just one senator, usually in a safe seat, and it keeps us from being able to move forward legislation that we absolutely need," El-Sayed said.
Stevens offered a confusing answer on the topic. She said the filibuster "must go" but also argued it should have been used to block the GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year. The act passed through budget reconciliation, which bypasses the filibuster entirely.
What the polls show
A recent poll from Emerson College Polling and WOOD-TV found El-Sayed and McMorrow tied at 24 percent each among likely primary voters. Stevens received 13 percent.
The eventual Democratic nominee will face former Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election. Rogers lost to then-Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024 by fewer than 20,000 votes.
Both Peters and Slotkin attended the debate. Neither plans to endorse a candidate yet.
"It is messy. Messier than I would have liked," Slotkin told The Associated Press. "I think it's important in any primary that the candidates focus more on what they want to do and their positive affirmative plan."
Peters said the winner will need to build a broad coalition.
"What are the types of candidates that win in purple states? That should be what we're looking for," Peters said. "Who can bring people together and build the kind of broad coalition to win in a purple state?"
Outside spending in the race is expected to climb into the nine figures. The Republicans' U.S. Senate campaign organization has reserved $45 million in ads. Democrats have reserved $20 million.