Sanders Frames Michigan Senate Primary as Battle Against 'Billionaire Class,' Dismissing Rep. Stevens

Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., recently critiqued Representative Haley Stevens, D-Mich., stating that the Michigan Democratic Senate primary is not primarily about her, but rather a contest over whether the "billionaire class" can impede the progress of candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

Sanders delivered these remarks during a campaign rally in Detroit on Saturday, where he appeared alongside El-Sayed. The two candidates are set to compete in the August 4 primary election.

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

Allegations of Excessive Spending

Sanders contended that affluent donors and external political organizations have injected unprecedented amounts of money into the race, aiming to defeat El-Sayed. Sanders has publicly endorsed El-Sayed, identifying him as a prominent progressive contender in this election cycle's Senate races.

"The billionaire class, which has already — and there are two weeks left to go in the election — has already spent $50 million against him," Sanders noted. "Now I want everybody here throughout the state, people turning on the TVs and they see all these ads, I want you to ask yourself a simple question: Why are the richest people in the country spending tens and tens of millions of dollars to defeat Abdul El-Sayed?"

The Senator claimed that outside groups have outspent El-Sayed's campaign by a ratio of 12-to-1, interpreting this flood of expenditures as an indication that influential interests perceive the progressive candidate as a significant challenge. Data from AdImpact indicates that super PACs supporting Stevens are dedicating approximately $26.9 million to television advertisements during the final five weeks of the primary, in contrast to roughly $2.1 million allocated to support El-Sayed.

A Closely Watched Primary

The Michigan Senate primary has become one of the most closely observed Democratic contests of the 2026 cycle, underscoring the widening ideological divide within the party between its progressive and establishment factions. El-Sayed has garnered endorsements from Sanders and other leading progressive figures, while Stevens has received backing from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and recently secured an endorsement from the retiring Senator Gary Peters.

Stevens has served as the representative for Michigan's 11th Congressional District since 2019, following her tenure on the Obama administration's auto industry task force.

Recent Campaign Trail Incidents

The congresswoman has attracted considerable attention on the campaign trail in recent days due to a couple of unusual speeches that gained widespread traction online. In one viral video, Stevens faced online ridicule, with critics drawing comparisons between her animated campaign address and a classic "Saturday Night Live" sketch featuring Chris Farley's "van down by the river" character.

This viral moment also resurfaced an earlier incident from 2020. During a House floor speech, Stevens, wearing pink latex gloves amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, continued speaking beyond her allotted time despite the speaker pro tempore repeatedly declaring her "out of order" and striking the gavel.

The Senate race saw a notable tightening after state Senator Mallory McMorrow concluded her campaign earlier this month. This withdrawal has left Stevens and El-Sayed in a direct contest, which many Democrats are viewing as a proxy battle for the party's future direction. The victorious candidate is anticipated to face Republican Mike Rogers in the general election this November.