Rep. Haley Stevens launches Senate run to protect Michigan from Trump's chaos
Haley Stevens, Michigan's 11th District Rep. since 2019, enters Senate race (Photo: Getty Images)
Rep. Haley Stevens has entered the Michigan Senate race, sharply criticizing Donald Trump’s policies and vowing to defend the state’s auto industry, reports NBC News.
Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens officially launched her campaign for the US Senate, aiming to secure the seat currently held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
She enters a heated Democratic primary alongside state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed, as Republicans back former Rep. Mike Rogers.
In her announcement video, Stevens spotlighted her background as chief of staff to the White House Auto Task Force under President Barack Obama and warned that Donald Trump’s trade agenda continues to threaten Michigan’s key industries.
"Donald Trump has a much different plan for Michigan. His chaos and reckless tariffs are putting tens of thousands of Michigan jobs at risk," she said. "Donald Trump says he couldn’t care less if auto prices rise. Well, I couldn’t care more."
Stevens also took aim at rising housing costs, inflation, and what she called "more chaos," contrasting her record of delivering results with Trump’s erratic style.
Video clips of Trump alongside Elon Musk underscored her message of economic instability under GOP leadership.
Democrats face intraparty tension as primary race heats up
The Democratic primary is already simmering with generational and ideological clashes.
Just days before Stevens' launch, Abdul El-Sayed received the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders and accused Congress of failing to respond forcefully to Trumpism.
"We’ve got to fight back hard against Trump and Musk with a hell of a lot more than paper paddles and broken promises," El-Sayed said, referencing past symbolic protests.
McMorrow, meanwhile, positioned herself as a challenger to the status quo in Washington. "The same old crap out of Washington won’t fix things," she said in her video, as she called for a new direction and leadership.
Stevens, however, enters the race with a track record of flipping red districts and defeating tough challengers, giving her a strong base in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive races of the 2026 cycle.
Stevens’ entry adds to a growing list of Democrats taking on Trump-aligned figures nationwide.
In California, former OneRepublic bassist Tim Myers recently launched a congressional bid to unseat GOP Rep. Ken Calvert, citing Trump-era policies as a major concern.
And in Colorado, Sen. Michael Bennet announced his run for governor, calling state leadership the new front line in resisting Trump’s economic and political influence.
