DETROIT (AP) \u2014 Michigan Democrats on Friday urged voters to rally behind their statewide candidates, three days after a bitter U.S. Senate contest highlighted divisions between the party\u2019s progressive and moderate wings.<\/p>\n
A slate of nominees and other notable Democrats emphasized unity to a crowd of more than 1,000, who cheered loudest for Abdul El-Sayed<\/a>, a former public health official. He narrowly beat<\/a> establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in a contentious, closely watched primary for an open U.S. Senate seat.<\/p>\n \u201cMichigan, we will fight to build the America that we are proud to hand off to our kids and our grandkids,\u201d El-Sayed said at a podium beneath a scoreboard in a Detroit high school gym.<\/p>\n With less than three months before the general election where El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers, the Democratic Party is under pressure to close ranks in a race that will help determine control of the Senate.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the spirit of coming together, I want to thank both of my colleagues who ran, Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow, for an incredible race,\u201d El-Sayed said. McMorrow, a state senator, suspended her campaign in July and appeared alongside El-Sayed at a Wednesday event after his victory.<\/p>\n Current Democratic Sen. Gary Peters\u2019 decision to not seek reelection<\/a> left the seat open. Michigan is a perennial battleground state, having voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020 and Trump again in 2024.<\/p>\n Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a potential 2028 presidential contender and Michigan resident, referenced the seat\u2019s national implications, prompting cheers from the crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cThe stakes are high, and people from around the country, people from around the world, are watching the state of Michigan right now to see if we have the capability to put together that coalition to win,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd we will win.\u201d<\/p>\n Jocelyn Benson, Michigan\u2019s secretary of state who is running for governor, referenced an attempt by the Trump administration to access Michigan voters\u2019 personal information. A federal judge ruled in June<\/a> that the state does not have to share voters\u2019 information with the federal government. Benson won her primary<\/a> easily and will face Trump-backed Rep. John James in the general election.<\/p>\n \u201cYou all know who I work for. All of you and every Michigander in this state \u2014 not the highest bidder, not corporate interests, not Donald Trump,\u201d Benson said.<\/p>\n Other statewide candidates who spoke included Eli Savit, who is running for attorney general, and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, who is running for secretary of state. The crowd cheered and stomped their feet on the gym bleachers when speakers talked about reproductive rights, protection for voters and opposing the Trump administration.<\/p>\n Before the rally started, attendee Tom Moran carried a banner that read \u201cUnite behind the winner.\u201d The school bus driver from Fenton, Michigan, voted for Stevens in the primary.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I\u2019m saying, take the pledge. Unite behind our nominee,\u201d Moran, 71, said.<\/p>\n The messy primary between El-Sayed and Stevens occasionally got personal. El-Sayed told Semafor in early July that Stevens couldn\u2019t \u201cstring together two coherent sentences.\u201d In a separate interview, he called Stevens \u201cthe least capable candidate in America.\u201d<\/p>\n Stevens, in turn, accused El-Sayed of chasing publicity.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m the only one on this stage who doesn\u2019t have a talent agent trying to pitch me for paid speeches,\u201d she said during a debate against El-Sayed. \u201cAnd unlike my opponent, I\u2019m not running at the first mic or camera I see.\u201d<\/p>\n Stevens, who lost the primary by just under 1 percentage point, told CBS News on Thursday that she was willing to campaign with El-Sayed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever he wants me to do,\u201d she said. Stevens appeared Thursday with El-Sayed at a breakfast hosted by the Michigan Democratic Party.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n