Fact-checks of Michigan Democratic Senate Primary Claims

The Michigan Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, scheduled for Aug. 4, has drawn intense scrutiny as candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens vie for the nomination. El-Sayed, backed by progressive lawmakers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, describes himself as a progressive but not a socialist. Stevens, supported by Sen. Gary Peters, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, positions herself as a center-left Democrat.

Fact-checking of campaign statements revealed multiple false or misleading claims. El-Sayed alleged that a July poll showing Stevens ahead was funded by AIPAC; the polling firm Tavern Research confirmed the poll was independently financed, with no evidence linking AIPAC. The claim was rated false. Stevens denied receiving donations from two major Michigan utility companies; records show her 2025 campaign did receive contributions from PACs affiliated with DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, which were later transferred to her Senate campaign, leading to a “mostly false” rating.

El-Sayed asserted that former Rep. Mike Rogers took a $14 million payout as a pharma lobbyist. Federal and state records found no lobbying registration or payment matching that figure, though Rogers did perform consulting work for technology firms, prompting a “Pants on Fire!” rating. Stevens countered that El-Sayed’s father-in-law runs a super PAC that spent millions for him; the PAC’s filings show the father-in-law contributed $300,000, making him a top donor but not the operator, resulting in a false rating.

Claims about artificial-intelligence industry super PACs influencing the race were also disproven; the identified AI-focused super PACs have not spent in the Michigan contest. Stevens has received modest corporate PAC donations from Microsoft and Google, distinct from super PAC spending.

A pro-Stevens group suggested El-Sayed’s call for “uncommitted” votes would aid President Donald Trump. The statement omitted that El-Sayed later endorsed Kamala Harris after Joe Biden withdrew from the race, leading to a “half-true” rating.

Republican ads targeting El-Sayed’s positions on ICE and Medicare for All were noted as part of a broader strategy to influence the primary, though the exact spending amount remains unclear.

"The GOP is spending thousands of dollars to prop up El-Sayed's campaign because they think it will make it easier for Mike Rogers to win if you are the nominee," said Jessica Taylor, editor at Cook Political Report.

Overall, the fact-check underscores a pattern of unsubstantiated claims and strategic messaging as the closely watched race unfolds.