In the first two weeks of August, the upper Midwest states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota will hold primaries for Governor and US Senate, along with House races and state legislative races.
The Democratic Party is facing splits, whereby “Democratic Socialists” are challenging establishment Democrats, which might lead to future problems against Republican opponents.
Today, the situation in Michigan will be discussed, followed by Wisconsin and Minnesota over the next two days.
In Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running for Governor, while the likely Republican nominee is African American Congressman John James, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2018 and 2020, after graduating West Point and serving for eight years in the military.
More controversial is the battle for the Democratic Senate nomination between Congresswoman Haley Stevens and physician Abdul El Sayed, who was Health Director for Detroit and for Wayne County, and was a competitor in 2018 for the Michigan Gubernatorial race.
Abdul El Sayed is backed by Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Chris Van Hollen, and Elizabeth Warren, and is vehemently opposed by the pressure group AIPAC, since he is a major critic of Israel and its war in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank against Palestinians.
Stevens is supported by mainstream Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, among others.
The concern of many is that Abdul El Sayed, who would be the first Muslim Senator if he won the Senate race, would have major problems against Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in the election, when Democrats need to gain four seats in the Senate to win the majority of the chamber, and with Democratic Senator Gary Peters presently holding that seat.
The strong belief of many is that IF Michigan is lost to the Republicans, there is no way for Democrats to gain the four seats needed to be the majority in the US Senate in the 120th Congress (2027-2029).
Dems pick South Carolina to lead 2028 primary calendar
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/24/democrats-dnc-2028-calendar-south-carolina-01011481
Democrats poised to nominate Troy Jackson in must-win Maine Senate race
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/maine-senate-race-democrats-poised-nominate-troy-jackson-challenge-sus-rcna588711
After Democratic Shake-Up, Susan Collins Holds Enormous Cash Edge in Maine
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/us/politics/collins-jackson-maine-senate-fundraising.html
Secret paid influencer campaign backing Stevens floods Michigan Senate race
https://www.ms.now/news/haley-stevens-michigan-senate-paid-influencer-campaign
Gretchen Whitmer endorses Haley Stevens for Michigan Senate seat
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/24/gretchen-whitmer-michigan-senate-race-haley-stevens-01011606
Republicans see ‘scary’ lack of enthusiasm among core voters ahead of midterms
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/26/republican-enthusiasm-problem-hits-even-core-voters/
McConnell Aide Drops New Claims About Vanished Senator
https://www.thedailybeast.com/mcconnell-aide-drops-new-claims-about-vanished-senator/
In Maine, Democrats Pick Troy Jackson to Replace Platner in Senate Race
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/us/politics/troy-jackson-maine-senate-democrats-platner.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0VA.OJpm.g7eFLRypHfeQ&smid=url-share
Troy Jackson shows strong small-dollar numbers in first day as Senate nominee
https://www.ms.now/news/troy-jackson-small-dollar-fundraising-maine-senate
‘Fighting for an affordable America’: Hakeem Jeffries unveils closing midterm pitch
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/26/hakeem-jeffries-policies-midterm-elections-01012354
I definitely think that the economy should be part of Democrats’ pitch, but so should saving our democracy…
Phone-Throwing, Postponed Bills: DNC Chair Reportedly Under Pressure Ahead Of Midterms
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ken-martin-democratic-national-committee-phone-throwing-incident_n_6a6679a4e4b006a1a83679a1
It’s astounding that given the choice between Ken Martin and the superb Ben Wikler, DNC members elected…Martin.
Black voters may decide the nation’s biggest Democratic primary. Many are clearly against the more progressive option
https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/27/politics/black-voters-michigan-senate-stevens-el-sayed
White Michigan Dems should definitely listen to Black Michigan Dems…
He Tried to Overturn an Election. Now He Hopes to Run Them.
“Arizona Republican voters nominated Alexander Kolodin for their secretary of state, despite — or perhaps because of — his election denial efforts.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/us/alexander-kolodin-election-denial-arizona.html
That should be automatically disqualifying.
Maddow flags the weirdest candidates 99 days from midterms
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/crazysauce-maddow-flags-the-weirdest-candidates-99-days-from-midterms-2508718659625
Senate Democrats announce $40M ground game spend in 10 battlegrounds
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/28/congress/senate-dems-ground-game-40-million-spend-01013128
Stevens and El-Sayed trade personal attacks and other takeaways from the Michigan Senate primary debate
https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/27/politics/abdul-el-sayed-haley-stevens-michigan-debate-takeaways
El-Sayed comes under fire for ‘ogre on a pike’ leaked comment
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/27/el-sayed-backlash-leaked-comment-michigan-senate-01012659
The Anti-Democrat
“Abdul El-Sayed is calling out his party; Haley Stevens is embracing it.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/07/michigan-primary-abdul-elsayed-progressives-stevens/688096/
Democratic candidates absolutely have the right to criticize other Democrats, BUT their focus should be like 90% on a combination of putting forth their own policy ideas and really taking it to fascists/MAGAs. If they’re mostly focused on attacking Democrats, hard pass…
El-Sayed leads Stevens by 15 points in Michigan Senate primary
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5997606-el-sayed-leads-stevens-michigan-senate-poll/
Fox News Poll: Democratic enthusiasm shapes North Carolina Senate race
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-democratic-enthusiasm-shapes-north-carolina-senate-race
How Haley Stevens’s Accent Became a Flashpoint in Michigan’s Senate Race
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/us/politics/haley-stevens-accent-michigan-senate.html?unlocked_article_code=1.1lA.sV18.C1FQtX6hzHkc&smid=url-share