UAW Michigan Endorsements
UAW Endorses Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan Senate, Backs Jocelyn Benson for Governor
Key Points
In its endorsement statement, the UAW’s Community Action Program board added a forward-looking line—“including when we need it most — like come May Day 2028”—after emphasizing El-Sayed had “never taken a dime from corporate PACs.”
El-Sayed publicly linked the endorsement to labor organizing, saying he was “honored and humbled” and posted that “Michigan union autoworkers built the American middle class,” while preparing to join UAW Local 2093 American Axle workers on the picket line in Three Rivers.
The UAW underscored its clout in Michigan by describing its scale: it “boasts over 350,000 active and retired members in Michigan” (and is described elsewhere as representing about 300,000 active and retired workers across multiple sectors).
For the governor race, the UAW endorsement highlighted intra-Democratic primary competition: Benson was described as the heavy favorite, but Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson was noted as her lone primary opponent and as having “been pushing hard for the UAW’s support.” The article also said only Benson, Swanson, and independent candidate Mike Duggan attended a UAW-hosted forum in May—and that Duggan ended his campaign on May 21.
The United Auto Workers endorsed physician and progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat on June 5, 2026, calling him a "fighter" with "a strong working-class agenda with moral clarity," according to Common Dreams. The union, which claims over 350,000 active and retired members in Michigan, chose El-Sayed over Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow ahead of an August 4 Democratic primary.
The same day, El-Sayed joined nearly 1,000 striking UAW Local 2093 workers on the picket line at American Axle in Three Rivers, where workers have been striking since June 1 over wages capped at $22 per hour — half of what they earned before 2008 concessions, according to Michigan Public.
UAW Picks the Furthest-Left Senate Candidate
The UAW's Community Action Program board framed its endorsement around two core policies: Medicare for All (a single-payer healthcare system) and a ban on stock buybacks, the practice where companies buy back their own shares instead of raising wages. The union also stressed that El-Sayed has "never taken a dime from corporate PACs," according to WKAR. His rival Rep. Haley Stevens has drawn scrutiny over a "shadow Super PAC" tied to corporate lobbyists, per Common Dreams.
Recent polls show a tight race. A June 2 Lake Research poll put El-Sayed at 34%, Stevens at 31%, and McMorrow at 19%. An earlier TIPP poll from May 23 had Stevens leading at 35% to El-Sayed's 31%. The UAW's ground game — backed by the state's largest labor union — could tip a race where 36% of voters were still undecided as recently as April, according to Michigan Public.
American Axle Strike Puts Labor Issues Front and Center
The endorsement landed during a live labor fight. UAW Local 2093 members walked off the job at American Axle's Three Rivers plant on June 1 after their contract expired without a deal. Workers accepted a 50% pay cut — from $29 to $14.50 per hour — in 2008 to save the plant. They are now striking to claw back those wages, even as the company has posted $8.4 billion in profits over the last decade, according to WDET.
UAW President Shawn Fain called American Axle's management "corporate bullies." El-Sayed joined the picket line the afternoon of the endorsement. He posted that "Michigan union autoworkers built the American middle class," according to Michigan Public. The union's endorsement statement also dropped a notable line about supporting leaders "come May Day 2028" — a reference to Fain's push to align all union contracts for a potential national general strike on May 1, 2028.
UAW Also Backs Benson as Michigan's Governor Race Opens Up
In the same announcement, the UAW endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for governor. Both the Senate and governor seats are open: Sen. Gary Peters announced in January 2025 he would not seek a third term, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited. The UAW called both races critical to protecting workers at the state and federal levels, according to WZZM13.
Benson faces only one primary challenger: Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who has "been pushing hard for the UAW's support," per WZZM13. Swanson called the race "not a coronation" after Benson skipped a televised June 4 debate to attend an educators' event. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who had run as an independent, dropped out on May 21, citing a "toxic" political climate.
Establishment Democrats Worry the Left Flank Could Cost the Seat
Not everyone is celebrating the endorsement. Lon Johnson, former Michigan Democratic Party Chair, warned that El-Sayed's "far-left positions" could cost the party the general election against Republican Mike Rogers, the former U.S. Representative and likely GOP nominee, according to Michigan Public. The National Republican Senatorial Committee quickly released a statement claiming the endorsement proves a "radical agenda" has taken hold of Michigan Democrats.
Oakland University political analyst David Dulio called the UAW endorsement the "big prize" in the primary. He said it signals the party's activist base is shifting "significantly leftward." UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English put it plainly: UAW support is "never automatic" and must be earned through a "strong working-class agenda," per Michigan Public.
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