Michigan Senate primary tests Democratic divides

Voters in five states head to the polls today in primaries that will test Democratic divisions, the strength of President Donald Trump’s endorsements and the shape of several key midterm contests.

The sharpest focus is on Michigan, where Democrats are choosing a nominee for an open U.S. Senate seat that could be central to their hopes of regaining control of the chamber. Rep. Haley Stevens is facing Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official, in a race that has become a proxy fight over the party’s direction.

Stevens, who flipped a suburban House district in 2018, has emphasized her appeal to crossover voters, support for Michigan manufacturing and what NBC News described as kitchen-table issues. She is backed by outgoing Sen. Gary Peters, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a pro-Israel lobbying group. El-Sayed is supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He champions Medicare for All, wants to eliminate corporate money from politics and supports abolishing ICE.

NPR’s Sam Gringlas, who said he spoke with about 50 voters over the past two weeks, said the intensity of the race reflects broader Democratic debates: establishment versus insurgent, further-left versus more moderate and insiders versus outsiders. The winner is expected to face Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in November.

Michigan is not the only state voting. Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington are also holding primaries, with Democratic contests across the states highlighting similar ideological divides. Republicans also face tests, including in Michigan’s governor’s race, where Trump has endorsed Rep. John James against businessman and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Perry Johnson.

On Capitol Hill, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to move forward with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation vote after Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis dropped their objections. Their concerns centered on a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” created as part of a settlement deal in a lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS.

Blanche provided written confirmation that the fund would be rescinded. Cornyn and Tillis said they “look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon.” NPR reported that legal experts say the documents Blanche released are not legally binding. NBC News reported that the rescission may contain a loophole because Blanche signed the order rescinding the fund but was not among those who signed the underlying agreement establishing it, which says it “may be modified only with the written agreement of the Parties.”

In Washington state, authorities arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of three major wildfires burning in the Spokane area. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said a judge signed a warrant based on an allegation of first-degree arson. Police said a witness reported seeing a man near the fire shortly before it began Saturday morning. Deputies questioned Farinacci that day and released him, but detectives later linked him to the fire.

The fires have displaced about 65,000 people, according to NPR. NBC News reported that the fires have burned more than 8,000 acres and destroyed more than 700 structures, while NPR reported more than 7,000 acres burned and approximately 600 homes destroyed.

Separately, Trump called the Iranian regime “unbelievably duplicitous” on Truth Social after Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, “we currently do not have negotiations with America.” Trump later told reporters at the White House that talks with Iran were “going on right now” and claimed the Strait of Hormuz would be open to marine traffic today.

And a defunct upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to crash into the moon tomorrow around 2:35 a.m. ET at up to 5,500 mph. NBC News reported it would be only the second known case of a rocket unintentionally striking the lunar surface.