Abdul El-Sayed (D), Mike Rogers (R), Douglas P. Marsh (G), Lydia Christensen (L), and Timothy Long (U.S. Taxpayers Party) are running in the general election for Senate in Michigan on Nov. 3. Incumbent Gary Peters (D) did not seek re-election.

The U.S. Senate race is central to determining which party gains or maintains control of the chamber. Heading into the election, Republicans held a majority. President Donald Trump (R) won the popular vote in Michigan 49.7%-48.3% in 2024. In 2020, Joe Biden (D) won the state's popular vote 50.6%-47.8%. Michigan's last Republican senator was Spencer Abraham, who left office in 2001.

Beyond control of the Senate, political commentators predict the election could serve as a bellwether for the state of progressive politics nationwide. BBC's Anthony Zurcher says the election "will provide perhaps the most dramatic, high-stakes test of whether a left-wing candidate [El-Sayed] can win a general election race in a true battleground state."

Columbia University Professor Robert Y. Shapiro writes, "It is trite to say it but true that the election will be all about turnout -- turnout of the MAGA base and anti-leftist Republicans versus a fired up Democratic voting base that is fed up and angry." Republican pollster Daron Shaw says, "The energy is on the left in Michigan, as it is throughout the country, and that should help with turnout. ... But El-Sayed ... needs to reassure a wide range of Michigan Democrats — including Reagan Democrats, Jewish voters and Black voters — that he will serve their interests."

El-Sayed is a physician, epidemiologist, and podcast host. He was the director and health officer for the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services from 2022 to 2025 and the executive director and health officer for the Detroit Health Department from 2015 to 2017. El-Sayed's campaign website says, "Abdul is fighting for an economy that works for everyone, healthcare for all, affordable housing, quality education, clean air and water, and sensible foreign policy."

Rogers represented Michigan's 8th Congressional District from 2001 to 2015. He also served in the Michigan Senate representing District 26 from 1995 to 2000. Rogers' other work experience includes serving in the U.S. Army, as a special agent for the FBI, and as a cybersecurity professional. Rogers says, "I’ll always put America and Michigan first. That means bringing manufacturing jobs back home, lowering the cost of gas, groceries, & prescription drugs, protecting seniors’ social security & medicare, and setting our kids up for success by prioritizing education not indoctrination."

The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate in the 120th Congress. Thirty-three of the 100 U.S. Senate seats are up for election, and another two seats are up for special election. Democrats hold 13 of the seats up for election, and Republicans hold 22.

Currently, Republicans have a 53-45 majority in the chamber. To read more about the U.S. Senate elections taking place this year, click here.

This is one of 11 open U.S. Senate races this year in which an incumbent is not running for re-election. Across the country, four Democrats and seven Republicans are not running for re-election — more than any year since 2012. In 2024, eight incumbents — four Democrats, two Republicans, and two independents — did not seek re-election.