LANSING, Mich. (AP) – Fourth-term U.S. Representative Haley Stevens has officially announced her candidacy for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat. Her campaign launch was marked by a video that underscores the economic crisis exacerbated by former President Donald Trump's unpredictable tariff policies. In a bid to communicate her commitment to protecting Michigan's vital auto industry, Stevens was seen walking through a lot filled with pickup trucks and SUVs, declaring, "His chaos and reckless tariffs are putting tens of thousands of Michigan jobs at risk."
Stevens, a Democrat, emerges as the fourth prominent candidate in what is becoming one of the most closely-watched Senate races in the country. The 53-47 Republican majority is at stake in Michigan, a battleground state that Trump won in the previous election. Nearly immediately after Democratic Senator Gary Peters announced he would not seek reelection, Stevens positioned herself as a top contender, set to face off against State Senator Mallory McMorrow and former gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic primary.
On the Republican side, former U.S. Representative Mike Rogers is re-entering the race after a narrow defeat to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in the 2024 Senate race, losing by just 19,000 votes. Stevens will need to defend her congressional record as McMorrow and El-Sayed begin to carve out their identities as challengers. McMorrow has gained national attention for her viral moments, while El-Sayed enjoys support from influential Senator Bernie Sanders.
Before entering Congress, Stevens played a crucial role on the U.S. Treasury's auto task force in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, aiding the Obama administration's bailout of General Motors and Chrysler. Citing the latest tariff-related challenges posed by Trump, Stevens advocates for a strong auto industry, as it fundamentally influences Michigan's economy. She emphasized, "People are very much at a boiling point around the uncertainty of tariffs."
As an outspoken critic of Trump's tariffs, particularly those directed at Canada, Stevens argues that such measures disrupt the auto industry and create chaos for businesses of all sizes. She criticized the unpredictability of Trump's tariff strategies, which hinder effective planning for leaders and companies, stating, "His chaos and reckless tariffs are putting tens of thousands of Michigan jobs at risk."
Despite her criticism, Stevens, like some of her Democratic colleagues, has clarified that her stance is not inherently anti-tariff. Michigan's Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently advocated for a more strategic use of tariffs, suggesting they should function like a "scalpel." Moreover, Shawn Fain, president of the top auto workers' union in the nation, has backed Trump's tariffs as a means to revive domestic manufacturing jobs.
Stevens serves on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and asserts her support for well-targeted tariffs aimed at enhancing American competitiveness in manufacturing, particularly against China. However, she firmly opposes any "shoot-by-the-hip, erratic tariffs" that lack clear guidelines for success. Her emphasis on stability contrasts sharply with Trump's tumultuous approach.
In her electoral history, Stevens has demonstrated considerable strength in the Oakland County region, a crucial voting area in Michigan. After flipping a historically Republican seat in 2018 and narrowly winning her reelection in 2020, she cruised to victory in the subsequent 2022 and 2024 elections, benefiting from a redistricting that made her constituency more favorable to Democrats.
