Michigan U.S. Senator Gary Peters recently endorsed Democratic candidate Haley Stevens in the party’s Senate primary. The endorsement prompted criticism from many voters, who argued that Stevens was not the right choice for Michigan at this time.
As reported by The Hill, Peters backed the Democratic candidate by saying that Michigan cannot “afford to lose” this important race, arguing that “she’s won tough races and delivered for Michiganders.”
After state Sen. Mallory McMorrow decided not to run in the Democratic primary, Stevens’ main opponent for the party’s nomination is Abdul El-Sayed. While Stevens is generally viewed as a centrist, El-Sayed is considered more progressive and has received endorsements from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders.
Stevens received endorsements from multiple Democratic officials, too, with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel among the latest to endorse her.
Michigan Reacts to Peters Endorsing Stevens
Michigan residents on Reddit’s r/Michigan were critical of Peters’ endorsement of the centrist candidate, with many directing their frustration at the senator. One user said, “Peters’ last term just destroyed how decent a senator he was for most of his time.” Another described the endorsement as “torching his mediocre legacy on the way out.”
Another user took a jab at the senator, saying, “I want to see a photo of Gary Peters posed with a current newspaper, because I haven’t heard from him for at least two years,” implying that the politician had not done anything noteworthy lately.
Much of the criticism surrounding the endorsement focused on Stevens’ ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and her centrist views. One user said, “Oh look, corporate AIPAC Dem endorsement for corporate AIPAC shill. Listening to their constituents is a lost art. Gary likes to listen to himself, and that’s it.”
Others believed the endorsement signaled that Stevens was struggling against her main Democratic opponent: “The fact that Peters had to come out and endorse Stevens now, just 3 weeks before the election, instead of staying neutral like he said in April tells me Stevens’ internals are not looking good. And that is very good news for El-Sayed.”
The Democratic nominee for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat will soon be decided. Until then, voters can only choose their preferred candidate, cast their ballots, and wait for the results.
