Watson Coleman takes sides in Michigan Senate race

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) is wading into one of the nation’s most closely watched Democratic primaries, backing progressive Abdul El-Sayed over one of her House colleagues in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race.

Watson Coleman, a six-term Democrat from New Jersey and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus executive board, announced her endorsement Monday, eight days before El-Sayed faces Rep. Haley Stevens in the August 4 primary.

“In my 12 years in Congress, I’ve learned that the best leaders lead with their values,” Watson Coleman said.  “That’s what Abdul does every single day; standing up to big corporations that nickel and dime us every day, working to make Medicare for All a reality and to abolish ICE, and fighting for working families.  I’ve seen what can be accomplished when we have principled leaders who put in the work.  That’s why I’m endorsing Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.”

El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and former Detroit health director who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018, has the support of progressive leaders including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Watson Coleman’s likely successor in New Jersey’s 12th district, Adam Hamawy, has already endorsed El-Sayed.  El-Sayed did not take sides in the June Democratic primary in New Jersey.

Stevens, a four-term congresswoman, is backed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other establishment Democrats.  Nearly $30 million in outside spending from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has aided Stevens.

The two candidates have sparred over health care, corporate influence and the war in Gaza. Watson Coleman, a co-sponsor of Medicare for All and the Ceasefire Now Resolution, praised El-Sayed as an opponent of “reckless foreign policy that enables genocide abroad.”

“Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman has worked tirelessly for decades to deliver for New Jersey,” El-Sayed said. “She has been an outspoken critic of reckless foreign policy that enables genocide abroad and an advocate for Black women and girls across America. She understands that we have to build our politics on vision for what we can have and should fight for.”

The New Jersey candidate in that race, Mallory McMorrow, who grew up in Readington Township and graduated from Hunterdon Central Regional High School, dropped out three weeks ago.  She had been in New Jersey to raise money in April.

The winner will face Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in November for the seat of retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters.