Slotkin wins Democratic Senate primary in Michigan

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) has won the Democratic nomination in the race for Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D) seat, setting up a prime upper-chamber battle key to determining the majority next year, Decision Desk HQ projects. 

Slotkin defeated actor Hill Harper, who is best known for his role on ABC’s “The Good Doctor,” to win the nomination to succeed the retiring Stabenow, who has served in her seat since 2001 and announced last year that she would not seek another term. Stabenow is the first female U.S. senator in Michigan’s history. 

Slotkin has represented Michigan in the House since 2019 and has developed a reputation as a more moderate member of the Democratic caucus. She previously worked for the CIA and Defense Department before her first election to office. 

She coalesced most establishment support around her candidacy in the primary, receiving endorsements from various Democratic Michigan officials, including Reps. Hillary Scholten, Dan Kildee and Haley Stevens, and prominent organizations like EMILY’s List, Giffords and the League of Conservation Voters. 

Harper sought to run to Slotkin’s left and received the support of former Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) and comedian Dave Chappelle. 

Slotkin also massively outraised and spent Harper in the race. 

Slotkin will likely face former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) in what will be a closely contested race where Republicans are eager to try to win a Michigan Senate seat for the first time in decades. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the race as a “toss-up.” 

Slotkin leads Rogers in the polling average from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill by about 6 points.