Gretchen Whitmer endorses Haley Stevens in Michigan’s contentious Democratic U.S. Senate battle

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham now has Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in her corner as she sprints toward the finish line in the Aug. 4 Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

Whitmer’s decision to back Stevens over Dr. Abdul El-Sayed — who she beat in the 2018 gubernatorial primary — adds a powerful establishment Democrat to Stevens’ long list of endorsements. Recent polling has shown that Whitmer’s endorsement still holds sway in the state as her tenure as governor winds down which could move some undecided voters in the contest.

With a little more than a week until the primary, Whitmer on Friday said that Stevens shares her vision for a better Michigan.

“During my eight years as governor, we’ve faced tough challenges. But my north star has always been to get stuff done for Michigan. I know that’s Haley Stevens’ guiding light too, which is why I am so proud to endorse her for U.S. Senate,” Whitmer said in a statement and a video circulated by Stevens’ campaign. “With the great Gary Peters stepping down, Michigan needs an effective fighter to step up and deliver for our state in the U.S. Senate. That’s Haley Stevens.”

Whitmer also invoked key planks of Stevens’ campaign — Stevens’ experience serving as chief of staff on President Barack Obama’s auto rescue and her status as the most effective Michigan Democrat in Congress.

“Haley knows how to get things done for Michigan,” Whitmer said. “She’ll be ready to deliver on day one on manufacturing, lowering costs, and protecting our health care and Social Security. I’m thrilled to be endorsing her for U.S. Senate.”

Stevens said that Whitmer “has been a role model for so many Michiganders, myself included.”

“She’s led our state through some of our hardest challenges — always delivering for our manufacturing economy, our auto industry, and our workers,” Stevens said in a statement. “Governor Whitmer embodies what it means to be ‘that woman from Michigan’ and everything that makes our state so special. She’s authentically Michigan — and I could not be more honored to have her endorsement for U.S. Senate. Let’s go win!”