DETROIT (AP) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Friday, in a race with Abdul El-Sayed that has become a focal point for the party's fight between its moderate establishment and progressive wings.
Whitmer remains popular in the battleground state, where she has twice won by substantial margins, and her endorsement gives Stevens a significant boost a day before early in-person voting begins. Whitmer also has history with El-Sayed, whom she defeated in the 2018 Democratic primary for governor.
The second-term governor appeared with Stevens and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn in Detroit on Friday, repeating her endorsement in front of more than 100 people at a Teamsters hall. She said Steven has “what it takes to win.”
"Michiganders need a fighter in Washington and there are few leaders with more fight in ’em than Haley Stevens,” Whitmer said, who left the event without taking questions from reporters.
Stevens has pitched herself as a Democrat who has won tough elections, including flipping a Republican-held House seat. She has been backed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, a two-term Democrat who is retiring from the seat.
She's in a tight race for the Democratic nomination against El-Sayed, a progressive whose supporters include Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen.
“The corporate establishment has closed ranks and made their pick – now, Michigan voters will get to make theirs,” said Roxie Richner, a spokesperson for El-Sayed.
The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will face Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in November for a critical, battleground Senate seat. Democrats are hoping to flip the Senate in November, and Michigan remains a key part of their plan.
Stevens is a four-term congresswoman from the Detroit area. Her candidacy has benefited from tens of millions in spending by outside political groups, including nearly $30 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which supports pro-Israel candidates.
El-Sayed, who accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, has criticized Stevens for taking money from AIPAC.
Whitmer is a term-limited governor who isn’t on the ballot this fall, though she has been mentioned as a possible 2028 presidential candidate. She is the best-known politician in Michigan.
Whitmer had long weighed the decision. Stevens’ success winning in a competitive district, including converting the GOP-held seat for Democrats in 2018, was among the factors in the endorsement, according to a person who was familiar with the governor’s deliberations but was not authorized to discuss private conversations and spoke on condition of anonymity.
U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., left, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, center, appear at a rally Friday, July 24, 2026, in Detroit, to support Democratic Senate candidate Haley Stevens. (AP Photo/Ed White)
From left foreground, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary candidate Abdul El-Sayed, and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT. join hands together following a campaign rally, Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
FILE - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers the State of the State address at the Michigan state Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Feb. 25, 2026. (Devin Anderson-Torrez/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP, File)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Disgruntled receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains in limbo as the San Francisco 49ers opened training camp Saturday with Aiyuk still under contract to the team and unable to sign with another franchise.
Lynch declined to answer any questions Saturday about Aiyuk's status as the former star receiver remains on the reserve/left squad list that he was placed on late last season.
“Brandon is on a ‘left squad’ designation. As such, he’s not on our 90-man roster,” Lynch said. "I’m, personally, and we as an organization, are going to focus on the players that are here. And so, I don’t have anything to say on that, anything to add to that. We wish him well. We wish his family well.”
Aiyuk has had an offseason of social media outbursts and has expressed a desire to play with his former college quarterback Jayden Daniels on the Washington Commanders.
While Lynch has previously said he doesn't expect Aiyuk to play for the 49ers again, the team is under no pressure to make a change to his status until he applies to the league to be reinstated.
San Francisco had placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list late last season after previously voiding $27 million guaranteed in his contract for 2026 for failing to participate in meetings and other team activities.
Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension just before the start of the 2024 season following a lengthy contract hold-in that kept him out of training camp. He was coming off a 2023 season when he had 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns and was a second-team All-Pro.
Aiyuk had only 25 catches for 374 yards in seven games in 2024 before getting injured. The 28-year-old Aiyuk has 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs since being drafted in the first round in 2020.
Star defensive end Nick Bosa has been cleared to start training camp after tearing his ACL last September, while tight end George Kittle and three other 49ers players will begin camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Lynch said Bosa spent most of the offseason doing rehab at the team facility rather than going back home to Florida and will ease his way back into practice during camp.
“Nick’s doing tremendous,” Lynch said. “Nick has always had a different schedule. He’s got a great sense, a great instinct for his body and what he needs. He’ll probably start in a phase (of) individual first, and then we’ll add as we see fit, as he sees fit.”
Lynch said Kittle is making good progress after tearing his Achilles tendon during a playoff win at Philadelphia last January and the team hasn't ruled out the possibility that he could be back in time for the season opener in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 11.
“George’s rehab is coming tremendous,” Lynch said. “He’s doing really well and that’s very exciting. He’s doing everything possible to be ready for Week 1 and we’re thrilled with his progress.”
The three other players who will open camp on the PUP list are defensive end Mykel Williams (knee), defensive tackle Alfred Collins (shoulder) and running back Isaac Guerendo (pectoral).
Lynch said Williams is aiming to be back for Week 1 but that hasn't been determined yet, while Collins should be back during training camp.
Guerendo got hurt during the offseason program and is likely out until at least late in camp.
In other roster moves, defensive tackle Evan Anderson was waived and undrafted tight end Khalil Dinkins was waived with an injury designation. The Niners signed tight end Tanner McLaughlin, who played two games in 2024 for Cincinnati.
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FILE - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk warms up before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn, File)
