Michigan voters are casting ballots in a closely watched midterm election, with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers competing in a Senate race that could help determine control of the chamber.
Polling stations opened across the state on Tuesday, as candidates made their final appeals and party activists focused on turnout in communities including Detroit, Ann Arbor and Dearborn.
El-Sayed arrived in Ann Arbor during the day, while Dearborn’s mayor reported strong participation in the city. The contest has drawn national attention after Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed, endorsed Rogers in the closing days of the campaign.
Rogers, a former congressman, cast his ballot as voters continued to move through polling places. The seat is open following the retirement of Democratic Senator Gary Peters, making the race one of the Republican Party’s main opportunities to gain ground in the Senate. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d546ffbcf04fbb4eb581f63f807a0609?utm_source=openai))
The late rupture among Michigan Democrats has led to renewed sparring between supporters of the two candidates. El-Sayed dismissed the significance of Stevens’s intervention, while national Democrats have urged voters to back him over Rogers.
Election officials were also following up on reports that Justice Department monitors had been sent to Michigan polling locations. Federal observers were notified in advance that they would be present in Detroit, East Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hamtramck, Lansing and Warren.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the monitors were a standard part of the electoral process and would be expected to comply with state and federal law. They are permitted to observe but cannot speak to voters, handle ballots or equipment, or interfere with election administration. ([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2026/10/22/state-of-michigan-reminder-on-doj-election-monitors?utm_source=openai))
Some voting problems were reported in Redford Township, but officials said the issues had been resolved. The American Civil Liberties Union said its voter-protection hotline had received a response that offered encouragement as complaints were assessed.
A harassing message was also reported at Stevens’s office, adding to tensions surrounding the Senate contest. No further details about the incident were immediately provided.
At Detroit’s north-west Activities Center, election workers reported a steady flow of voters. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson also addressed voters at a polling location as officials urged residents to report any problems and remain in line if they arrived before closing time.
The Senate contest has been described by campaigners as one of the most consequential races in the country. With polls open and counting still ahead, both campaigns were concentrating on turnout in the final hours of voting.
