Scoop: ModSquad endorses Stevens in divisive Michigan primary
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Rep. Haley Stevens speaks at the DC Blockchain Summit on March 17 in Washington. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ModSquad, a group that supports nearly a dozen moderate Senate Democrats, is endorsing Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic primary, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The Democratic Party is fracturing over its Senate primary in Michigan — a state that's an important hold for the party in the November midterms — with moderates coalescing behind Stevens while their left splits between two other candidates.
- Honorary ModSquad, Sen. Chair Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) called Stevens "a proven winner in a swing seat."
- Stevens, the favorite of party leaders in Washington, is battling state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and progressive Abdul El-Sayed in the Aug. 4 primary.
- If they have any chance of winning a majority this year, they'll likely have to hold on to the seat in Michigan, where Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring.
Driving the news: The Stevens endorsement is a powerful statement from Cortez Masto and ModSquad, who have watched other senators publicly support either McMorrow or El-Sayed.
- The group includes Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) — as well as Peters and Michigan's junior senator, Elissa Slotkin.
- Peters and Slotkin have remained neutral in the Michigan Senate race — and continue to do so.
- McMorrow has notched support from Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). El-Sayed has the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Zoom in: The Michigan Senate primary has become a flashpoint for many of the issues splitting the Democratic party in the post-Biden era.
- That includes feuding over Chuck Schumer's leadership, support for Israel, Medicare for All and how to oppose the Trump administration.
What they're saying: Cortez Masto said that Stevens "puts in the work to deliver for her state when too many people are just looking for headlines."
- ModSquad executive director Jennifer Mueller said Democrats "can't take a risk on unproven candidates."
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show the endorsement of Rep. Haley Stevens came from ModSquad PAC (not from all of the individual PAC members).
