Outgoing Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens on Monday in the contentious primary to replace him.
Stevens and progressive former public health official Abdul El-Sayed are facing off in the Aug. 4 primary, after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign earlier this month.
The nominee will face Trump-backed Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election.
“Haley began her service to Michigan as a critical part of our team as President Obama and I fought to save 200,000 jobs — rescuing and helping the auto industry come roaring back. I’m proud that Haley was recognized as the most effective Michigan Democrat in Congress,” Peters said in a statement.
The race between El-Sayed and Stevens is perhaps the biggest ideological battle in the party this year. Stevens has support from mainstream Democrats — including the tacit backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — and has seen outside support from the pro-Israel group AIPAC.
El-Sayed, meanwhile, has galvanized progressives and has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), among others.
If Democrats lose the general election to Rogers, it will be difficult for them to reclaim the Senate.
While Stevens has received support of establishment groups that argue their methods are best to take on Rogers, El-Sayed and his backers contend that the energy lies with their movement.
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