Senator Bernie Sanders dismissed the notion that Michigan's Democratic Senate primary is a straightforward contest between Rep. Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed. Speaking at a Detroit campaign rally on Friday, July 18, 2026, alongside El-Sayed, Sanders emphasized that the election is fundamentally a battle against the "billionaire class."

"In all due respect to Haley Stevens, everybody knows that this is not an election between her and Abdul," Sanders said. "This is an election between Abdul and the billionaire class. That is what this election is about."

Sanders highlighted the unprecedented financial efforts by wealthy donors and outside groups to defeat El-Sayed, whom he has endorsed as a leading progressive Senate candidate. According to Sanders, the billionaire class has already spent $50 million against El-Sayed, with two weeks remaining before the August 4 primary.

Haley Stevens has represented Michigan's 11th Congressional District since 2019 and previously served on the Obama administration's auto industry task force. The race has drawn attention partly due to Stevens' viral 2020 House floor speech where she continued speaking past her allotted time amid calls of being "out of order."

The primary is shaping up as a significant contest reflecting broader political dynamics, with Sanders framing it as a struggle over influence and money in politics rather than a simple candidate matchup.

Sources