LEADER OF THE PACK

We know it’s early, but just as candidates are lining up endorsements – and money – recognized pollsters are actively helping to determine who will emerge from the crowded fields of potential candidates on our primary ballots in a little over a year. A recent Glengariff Group poll commissioned by the Detroit Regional Chamber for Senate indicated that at this point in time, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed are currently the leading candidates in the Democratic primary – although Stevens is the clear frontrunner, with former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers strongly favored by Republicans. In a hypothetical matchup of Stevens v. Rogers, Stevens currently leads Rogers, among registered voters, 45.2 percent to 43.8 percent, and by a larger margin among “definite voters.” Glengariff pollster Richard Czuba told various media outlets that Stevens does better with independents than either Mallory McMorrow or El-Sayed, which he said is “going to be really important to watch.” With over a year to go before the August 2026 primary, Stevens garnered 34 percent of the primary field, El-Sayed, 22 percent, and McMorrow, 14 percent, with 30 percent still undecided. Among potential general election voters, Stevens led among registered and ‘definite’ voters, with 34.3 percent. McMorrow’s numbers show much greater potential and a tighter percentage in a recent poll by Global Strategy Group (GSG), with Stevens at 24 percent, McMorrow at 20 percent, El-Sayed at 15 percent and Joe Tate at four percent. “Among the 20 percent of primary voters who know both Mallory and Haley, Mallory holds a staggering 23-point lead,” GSG stated, indicating strong favorabilities for McMorrow. Perhaps in light of her strong polling, Stevens has recently hired some campaign heavyweights: as political director, Terra DeFoe, who was Senator Elissa Slotkin’s 2024 deputy political director, and Jason Ellenburg, former Senator Debbie Stabenow’s 2018 campaign manager as political advisor. David Kramer, who was on Slotkin’s finance committee, will chair the Stevens’ campaign finance council. Kramer’s mother, Zina, recently hosted a fundraiser for Stevens.