民主党急欲在与共和党人迈克·罗杰斯对决前保住席位，加里·彼得斯参议员打破中立承诺
2026年7月13日 美国东部时间7:44 / 福克斯新闻
民主党候选人言论遭审查，民主党正试图翻转红色州席位
缅因州持续发酵的格雷厄姆·普拉特纳丑闻危及民主党掌控参议院多数席位的努力，让中期选举局势更加岌岌可危。国会首席通讯记者查德·珀格拉姆分析了其他几场关键参议院竞争，其中包括密歇根州的阿卜杜勒·埃尔赛义德和阿拉斯加州的玛丽·佩尔托拉，两人的言论和过往表态正引发密切审视。
即将退休的密歇根州民主党参议员加里·彼得斯已打破其在密歇根州高风险民主党参议院初选中的中立立场， backing美国众议员黑利·史蒂文斯，此时民主党领导人正团结起来阻止进步派对手阿卜杜勒·埃尔赛义德获得提名。
已连任两届参议院议员、即将退休的彼得斯周一宣布了这一背书，称史蒂文斯“将在就职首日就为密歇根州而战”。这一举措推翻了他5月底的立场，当时他告诉美联社，他计划在8月4日的初选中保持中立。
民主党急于保住密歇根州的席位，以图重新夺回参议院多数席位，许多党领导人都已表态支持史蒂文斯——这位连任四届的国会女议员被他们视为更具大选竞争力的候选人。
民主党内战蔓延至密歇根，进步派在高风险参议院对决中面临迄今最严峻考验
（美联社照片/克里斯汀·诺曼）
史蒂文斯的竞选核心围绕制造业、就业和密歇根州汽车产业展开。埃尔赛义德曾担任密歇根州卫生局长，从未担任过民选公职，他以更进步的纲领参选，包括全民医保和竞选财务改革。他还将加沙战争作为竞选的核心议题，凸显了民主党内部出现的分歧。
（美联社照片/克里斯汀·诺曼）
彼得斯的背书出台数周前，州参议员马洛里·麦克莫罗退出竞选，史蒂文斯和埃尔赛义德成为该选区仅剩的主要民主党候选人。
“彼得斯参议员深知在密歇根州获胜需要什么，也清楚密歇根州未来的联邦参议员需要具备什么：坚韧不拔、履职能力、辛勤工作和密歇根式的常识，”史蒂文斯在一份声明中说，“我很荣幸能获得他的支持。”
彼得斯曾在密歇根州赢得两次参议院选举，并在2022年和2024年选举周期中担任参议院民主党竞选委员会主席。
（福克斯新闻/保罗·施陶因泽）
在他背书之前，参议院民主党领袖查克·舒默（纽约州民主党）、参议员鲁文·加列戈（亚利桑那州民主党）和参议员凯瑟琳·科尔特斯·马斯托（内华达州民主党）也已表态支持史蒂文斯。埃尔赛义德则获得了佛蒙特州独立参议员伯尼·桑德斯和马里兰州民主党参议员克里斯·范·霍伦的背书。
近几周来，竞选活动变得愈发个人化。
密歇根州参议院候选人称美国以色列公共事务委员会捐款为“合法化贿赂”，对其他捐款保持沉默
埃尔赛义德批评史蒂文斯的竞选活动获得了数千万美元的外部资金支持，其中包括来自美国以色列公共事务委员会的款项。史蒂文斯则指责埃尔赛义德拒绝公开其个人财务记录。在7月7日的辩论中，两位候选人都指责对方发起负面竞选。
民主党候选人很可能将面临共和党人迈克·罗杰斯的挑战——这位前密歇根州国会议员在党内初选中无人对手。这场竞选预计将成为11月全美耗资最高、关注度最高的参议院竞争之一。
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在缅因州另一场关键参议院竞选爆发动荡后，密歇根州对民主党而言变得愈发重要。缅因州民主党提名候选人格雷厄姆·普拉特纳因一项性侵犯指控退出竞选。这一意外的席位空缺让民主党挑战共和党参议员苏珊·柯林斯的努力变得复杂，也加大了民主党避免在密歇根州等其他摇摆州遭遇挫折的压力。
本文由美联社协助报道。
Michigan Dem senator throws support behind candidate to replace him in contentious primary
Sen. Gary Peters reversed neutrality pledge as Democrats scramble to hold seat ahead of clash with Republican Mike Rogers
July 13, 2026 7:44am EDT / Fox News
Democratic candidates’ remarks under scrutiny as party attempts to flip red states
The ongoing Graham Platner scandal in Maine jeopardizes Democratic bids for Senate control, making the midterm elections even more precarious. Chief Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram analyzes several other crucial Senate races featuring controversial candidates, including Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Mary Peltola in Alaska, whose rhetoric and past remarks are drawing scrutiny.
Retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., has abandoned his neutrality in Michigan’s high-stakes Democratic Senate primary, backing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens as party leaders rally to stop progressive rival Abdul El-Sayed from winning the nomination.
Peters, who is retiring after two terms in the Senate, announced the endorsement Monday, saying Stevens “will be ready on day one to fight for Michigan.” The move reverses his position from late May, when he told The Associated Press he planned to stay neutral in the Aug. 4 primary.
Democrats are eager to keep the Michigan seat as they try to win back the Senate majority, and many party leaders have lined up behind Stevens, a four-term congresswoman they see as a stronger general election candidate.
DEMOCRATS’ CIVIL WAR HEADS TO MICHIGAN WHERE PROGRESSIVES FACE BIGGEST TEST YET IN HIGH-STAKES SENATE SHOWDOWN
Michigan U.S. Sen. candidate, Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., speaks with media after a debate at WoodTV studios on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Mich.(AP Photo/Kristen Norman)
Stevens has centered her campaign on manufacturing, jobs and Michigan’s auto industry. El-Sayed, a former Michigan health director who has never held elected office, has run on a more progressive platform that includes Medicare for All and campaign finance reform. He has also made the war in Gaza a central issue in his campaign, highlighting a divide that has surfaced within the Democratic Party.
Michigan U.S. Sen candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, speaks with media after a debate at WoodTV studios on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Mich.(AP Photo/Kristen Norman)
Peters’ endorsement comes weeks after State Sen. Mallory McMorrow ended her campaign, leaving Stevens and El-Sayed as the only major Democratic candidates in the race.
“Senator Peters knows what it takes to win in Michigan, and he knows what Michigan needs from our next U.S. Senator: grit, effectiveness, hard work, and Michigan common sense,” Stevens said in a statement. “I am honored to have his support.”
Peters has won two Senate elections in Michigan and previously chaired the Senate Democrats’ campaign committee during the 2022 and 2024 election cycles.
Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is interviewed by Fox News Digital, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, on August 19, 2024(Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)
His endorsement follows similar backing for Stevens from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. El-Sayed has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
The campaign has become increasingly personal in recent weeks.
MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL CALLS AIPAC DONATIONS ‘LEGALIZED BRIBERY,’ REMAINS SILENT ON OTHER DONATIONS
El-Sayed has criticized Stevens over tens of millions of dollars in outside spending supporting her campaign, including money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Stevens has accused El-Sayed of refusing to release his personal financial records. During a July 7 debate, both candidates accused the other of running a negative campaign.
The Democratic nominee will likely face Republican Mike Rogers, a former Michigan congressman who is running unopposed for his party’s nomination. It is expected to be among the nation’s most expensive and closely watched Senate contests in November.
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Michigan has taken on added importance for Democrats after turmoil erupted in another key Senate race in Maine, where Democratic nominee Graham Platner withdrew following a sexual assault allegation. The unexpected vacancy has complicated the party’s efforts to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins, increasing the pressure to avoid setbacks in other battleground states such as Michigan.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.