Gretchen Whitmer quickly becomes Haley Stevens’s most prominent ally after a late game endorsement

“You’ve got to be willing to go everywhere, talk to everyone and stay focused on what Michiganders actually need to get ahead,” Whitmer said with Stevens and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina) standing beside her. “You’ve got to put solutions first, and politics last. And you gotta get shit done. I know Haley’s got what it takes to win.”

Whitmer officially endorsed Stevens on Friday. The nod brings new enthusiasm to Stevens’ campaign as she faces a tough election Aug. 4 against the progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who commands an army of energetic young followers and a broad coalition of Democrats looking for a change.

Stevens had long been the frontrunner for most of the race, but ceded some ground to El-Sayed and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak. As voters became more intrigued by McMorrow and El-Sayed, Stevens fell in the polls and has been fighting back to regain her position in the race.

A big opportunity came when McMorrow exited the race earlier this month, as both Stevens and El-Sayed began vying for McMorrow’s voters. It appears, however, that neither candidate grabbed a more than 50% share of McMorrow’s supporters, especially after McMorrow decided to not endorse Stevens or El-Sayed, saying only that she would wholeheartedly back the winner of the contest.

A finding in that same poll showed at least 34% of undecided Democratic primary voters would be swayed by Whitmer’s endorsement if she decided to throw her political capital behind one of the candidates.

On Friday, Whitmer chose Stevens. Within a few hours, Stevens’ campaign announced a meet and greet event with Teamsters and other supporters, which also featured Clyburn. Prior to the governor’s inclusion on the bill, Clyburn could have been labeled as her most prominent supporter at the function, but Whitmer stole the show.

“If you want to send a fighter to Washington D.C., and you’re ready to take back the U.S. Senate; if you’re ready to show the rest of the country how Michigan gets the job done, vote for Haley Stevens on Aug. 4,” Whitmer said.

Clyburn still used his might as a longtime representative to make the case for Stevens, who recent polling shows is ahead in the predominantly Black city of Detroit.

“I made it known months ago where I stood on this race,” Clyburn said. “This may be the third time I’ve been here, and each time, I took steps to go places and make it known my support for Haley Stevens.”

With so much on the line in 2026 — control of Congress but also Michigan’s executive offices and the state Legislature — Clyburn said destiny was now in the voters’ hands.

Stevens has long made the argument that she is the better candidate to face Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake in the general election. Rogers’ campaign and national Republican outfits have also signaled that they would likely feel better about facing El-Sayed in the general election due to his more progressive beliefs, which they have labeled as communist, with the GOP is banking on the fact that they can use that against him.

Either way, Clyburn said all the rhetoric or flashy campaigning in the world won’t win the election, it’s going to take getting Detroiters to the polls.

“We’ve got to do what’s necessary to put candidates forward who understand what it is to represent the dreams and aspirations of working men and women,” Clyburn said. “That’s why we’re in this place, because we’re here to honor the dreams and the aspirations of people who work every day, trying to make ends meet, trying to do what is necessary to prepare a future for their children and grandchildren.”

“Haley has done that,” Clyburn said.