State Michigan Democratic leaders vying for the state’s open Senate seat are posting competitive fundraising hauls against a sitting member of Congress, an early sign of an expensive 2026 midterm election primary season.

Former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed announced Tuesday that his campaign raised $1.8 million in the second quarter. He is second behind state Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow (D), who raised $2.1 million.

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Both candidates appear to have brought in more new donations than Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). Though Stevens reported $2.5 million for quarter two, she told Detroit News that she raised $1.3 million and transferred in $1.2 million from her House account.

All three candidates launched campaigns in April to fill the vacancy of outgoing Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). A poll conducted by the Glengariff Group and the Detroit Regional Chamber in May found that Stevens is the only Democratic candidate leading against Republican candidate former Rep. Mike Rogers (MI).

Stevens led Rogers by just over 1 point, 45.2% to 43.8%. McMorrow trailed Rogers, 45.9% to 41.6%, and El-Sayed came in 6 points behind Rogers, 46.9% to 40.1%.

Eyes are on El-Sayed to see if he can replicate the enthusiasm that led to a Democratic primary victory for Muslim American candidate Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor. Like Mamdani, El-Sayed has the backing of progressive groups and the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

The Arab American population, particularly in Michigan, significantly affected the 2024 election. Many were upset with the Democrats’ approach to the Israel-Hamas war and launched write-in campaigns, which contributed to former Vice President Kamala Harris’s defeat last November.

The race to succeed Peters is expected to be the most competitive of the 2026 midterm elections and is rated a “toss-up” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Though Republicans are expected to retain their majority in the upper chamber, the seat can be a strong asset for both parties, particularly concerning contentious legislation that needs to bypass a 60-vote filibuster.

This is Rogers’s second attempt to win a Senate term after losing to Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) in the 2024 election. He has endorsements from National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). Two Michigan congressmen, Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) have endorsed Rogers, even as Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) weighs his own bid.

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President Donald Trump endorsed Rogers in the 2024 election but has not done so for the upcoming midterm elections, as Huizenga has been in conversations with the president.

On the Democratic side, leadership has not yet endorsed a candidate in the primary. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has not backed Stevens despite her being a member, but she has received the support of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).