Rep. Haley Stevens Launches Senate Bid Amid Economic Concerns

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Fourth-term U.S. Representative Haley Stevens officially announced her candidacy for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, focusing her campaign on the economic turmoil stemming from former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. In a campaign video filmed in a lot filled with pickup trucks and SUVs, Stevens asserted that these policies jeopardize crucial jobs in Michigan’s auto industry, stating, “His chaos and reckless tariffs are putting tens of thousands of Michigan jobs at risk.”

Speaking with The Associated Press, Stevens emphasized the urgent need to terminate what she described as a “chaos agenda,” which she believes undermines the state’s economy and workforce. As a Democrat running in a race that is garnering national attention, Stevens enters the fray after Democratic Sen. Gary Peters opted not to seek reelection.

Stevens, who previously served on the U.S. Treasury’s auto task force during the 2008 financial crisis under President Barack Obama, quickly emerged as a top contender. She will face challenges in the Democratic primary from state Senator Mallory McMorrow and former gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed. On the Republican side, former Rep. Mike Bishop is seeking the nomination after narrowly losing to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in the 2024 Senate race.

Highlighting her political experience, Stevens recalled its significance during her tenure in Congress. She criticized Trump’s tariffs for inducing a new crisis in Michigan’s economy, heavily reliant on the auto industry. “People are very much at a boiling point around the uncertainty of tariffs,” she remarked.

Stevens has positioned herself as a staunch critic of the tariffs, which she argues adversely affect businesses of all sizes. Describing Trump’s approach as “dizzying,” Stevens believes the lack of consistent policy disrupts planning for industries crucial to Michigan’s economy. Her stance aligns with notable figures like Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who recently proposed using tariffs strategically rather than haphazardly.

As a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Stevens supports well-considered tariffs intended to enhance America’s manufacturing competitiveness against China. However, she argues that Trump’s erratic tariff strategy lacks clear guidelines. “What I do not support are shoot-by-the-hip, erratic tariffs that give us no rules of the road or path to understand how we can succeed,” said Stevens.

In her previous elections, Stevens represented Oakland County, a key demographic in Michigan’s competitive political landscape. She experienced tight races in her initial bids but secured reelection in the past two cycles after her district’s lines were redrawn, becoming more favorable for Democrats.