Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who was also former President Joe Biden’s energy secretary, has endorsed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham in her race for the Democratic nomination to be Michigan’s next U.S. senator.
Granholm, who no longer lives in Michigan, was governor from 2003-2011. Her endorsement comes at a time when Stevens, who has been in Congress since 2019, is in a tight nomination battle with former Wayne County and Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak.
All three have been working to line up and announce key endorsements, with El-Sayed receiving the backing of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, former U.S. Rep. David Bonior of Michigan and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit and McMorrow notching support from U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Chris Murphy of Connecticut, state Senate Democratic Leader Winnie Brinks and others.
Stevens also recently announced the endorsement of former U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and has the backing of Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard and others. It’s also of note that McMorrow’s husband, Ray Wert, worked for Granholm’s campaign when she ran for governor and for her administration.
Stevens is seen as having much of the backing of the Democratic Party’s traditional mainstream network but facing insurgent challenges from McMorrow and El-Sayed and dogged by questions about support from staunchly pro-Israel supporters. El-Sayed is slightly ahead in the Real Clear Politics polling average for the Aug. 4 primary with the Democratic nominee expected to face Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake in the general election.
In giving her endorsement, Granholm noted Stevens’ support for Michigan manufacturing and her service as the de facto chief of staff on the team that structured the rescue of General Motors and what was then Chrysler in 2009-10 under then-President Barack Obama. “Michigan’s next senator needs to focus on Michigan jobs, Michigan manufacturing, bringing down costs for Michigan families and standing up for Michigan against Donald Trump’s recklessness. That’s Haley Stevens,” Granholm said.
Contact Todd Spangler:tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on X @tsspangler.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stevens bags Granholm nod as endorsement race heats up
Reporting by Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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