LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A Democratic frontrunner is emerging in Michigan’s race for U.S. Senate, according to an exclusive statewide poll by MIRS and Mitchell Research & Communications.
Abdul El-Sayed (28%) has surged into a nine-percent lead over Congresswomen Haley Stevens (18%) and state Senator Mallory McMorrow (17%) in the race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Current U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D) is retiring.
The poll, conducted May 1-7, 2026, shows 38% are undecided. Earlier polls showed Stevens and McMorrow in a statistical dead heat, with El-Sayed just a few points behind.
Steve Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell Research & Communications, said El-Sayed is running as the most progressive and liberal candidate. “Democrats saw the impact of the strong leftist progressive wing of their party take over the Democratic Nominating Convention held to determine Democratic nominees for state-wide office, like secretary of state, attorney general, and statewide education board seats,” Mitchell said, referring to the Democratic state convention held last month in Detroit. “[Influencer Hasan] Piker, considered by many to be anti-Semitic [sic], is probably a primary reason for El-Sayed’s movement upward in the Democratic Primary.”
Mitchell added, “Polling in 2024 showed a plurality of Democratic voters supported Palestinians in the Palestinian Israeli war.”
El-Sayed has secured endorsements from Piker, Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, and 17 Michigan pastors. Recently, McMorrow came under fire for deleting thousands of tweets, including some where she disparaged Michiganders. In addition, the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) sent a letter to the District Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California and requested an investigation into potential discrepancies in McMorrow timeline where she lived in Michigan but allegedly voted in California.
Former state lawmaker and U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers is running as a Republican.
Michigan’s primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 4.
