THE BIG KAHUNA
- Downtown Newsmagazine
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Speaking of Rep. Haley Stevens, she formally jumped into the open U.S. Senate Democratic race on April 22. Stevens, of Birmingham and a Seaholm High School grad, joined state Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills), former Wayne County Health Department head Abdul El-Sayed, who grew up in Bloomfield Hills and graduated from Andover High School, and the crew has since been joined by former state Speaker of the House Joe Tate of Detroit. While McMorrow, 38, has positioned herself as a voice for a new generation, realistically all four current candidates are fellow millennials and of similar ages. Stevens is focused on both her long history fighting for the auto industry, going back to serving as chief of staff of President Obama’s auto rescue, to her signature “Manufacturing Mondays,” where since first being elected in 2018 she has returned to the district and spent every Monday touring over 200 manufacturing and technology businesses in the district. In addition, she can boast a string of legislative victories, including the signature bipartisan Chips and Science Act of 2022. “That congressional delegation behind Stevens, tapping into that infrastructure, gives you a leg up,” said one Michigan DNC member. “McMorrow is a star in her own right, and will allow her to raise money. She’s shooting above her weight class,” he said, noting she has the poise and charisma to carry her to the top. The question is what are the impacts of Tate and El Sayed from people of color, even if they don’t win? Tate, like Stevens, is a centrist – “I’m a fighter” – while El Sayed is a progressive liberal. Republican challenger former Congressman Mike Rogers is currently the only Republican in the Senate race, and has received numerous top Senate endorsements, but word is that Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Battle Creek) has hired a top consulting firm and is planning to jump into the race. According to Punchbowl, Huizenga has hired former Vice President Mike Pence’s chief strategist and his brother, former Rep. Greg Pence’s (R-Ind.) chief of staff. Most Republicans are urging him to stay in his (very safe) seat, and clear the path for Rogers. Rogers is holding a fundraiser on June 17 in Washington with 19 senators joining on the invite list and Senators John Thune and Tim Scott special guests. “On the right, people don’t like Rogers because they don’t think he’s far right enough,” said a Republican insider.
