Scoop: ModSquad endorse Stevens in divisive Michigan primary

Stephen Neukam

Rep. Haley Stevens speaks at a podium during the DC Blockchain Summit in Washington, D.C. — Rep. Haley Stevens speaks at the DC Blockchain Summit on March 17 in Washington. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

ModSquad, a group backing 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-Nevada) 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.

Peters and Michigan's junior senator, Democrat Elissa Slotkin, are both ModSquad members,
The group also 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.).
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."

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Scoop: ModSquad endorse Stevens in divisive Michigan primary

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