US Rep. Haley Stevens declares victory in the 11th District primary The Detroit News U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens defeated U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, a fellow Democratic congressman, who conceded after a bitter Democratic primary marked by partisan infighting and a proxy war over Israel. Stevens, 39, of Waterford Township had 60 percent of the vote Tuesday night and Levin, 61, of Bloomfield Township had 40 percent, with about 77 percent of the ballots counted. “My friends, it’s no mystery why we beat the odds. We stayed in Congress because we listened. I listened,” Stevens said in declaring victory in Birmingham shortly after 9 p.m. “Let’s continue to do the work of the people, for Oakland County. Let’s show this country how we do it. Let’s continue to lead in education and let’s continue to make a difference,” Stevens added. “Let’s pass a national right to abortion care for the girls who count on us. Let’s do it for the moms who never thought they’d see this day. Let’s do it for the world.” Levin conceded by phone just before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and congratulated Stevens in a statement. “I will support her and work with her and others to elect Democrats up and down the ballot in Oakland County and across Michigan and the United States on November 8,” said Levin, who went on to praise the campaign of “people power”. . “Unfortunately, I was also the target of a heavily Republican-funded campaign aimed at defeating the movement I represent wherever I spoke. I am humbled by the neighbors across Oakland County and by new and old friends across the country who came to help me fight back until the last minute.” Levin and Stevens, both two-term lawmakers, sought to unseat each other in one of the most tightly contested primaries this summer, where outside spending totaled nearly $9 million as a pro-Israel group and others spent heavily to help Stevens. The United Democracy Project, with ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has been the top spender in the Democratic primary this year, spending at least $24 million so far, according to OpenSecrets, including $4.1 million on fundraising of Stevens, who is supported by AIPAC . “Ultimately it was a triumph of geography and money, but I think being the most moderate candidate in the Democratic primary is often where you want to be,” said Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “There’s also a lot of outside money that came in and more that went in Stevens’s favor,” Kodick added. “But that seemed to be kind of the trajectory of the race, so that’s not a surprise tonight.” After declaring victory, Stevens said in an interview Tuesday night that she has “so much respect and admiration for anyone who wants to run or be re-elected.” “I will continue to honor my colleague and his family and the heritage they come from,” Stevens said. “And I will continue to stand up for the everyday working people of Oakland County, who demand that a congresswoman wants to do good things for them.” After the redistricting, Stevens and Levin both decided to run in the new 11th District, which covers Oakland County communities such as Pontiac, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Farmington Hills and West Bloomfield Township . Stevens, a moderate, has run a campaign tailored to Oakland County interests such as autos, manufacturing and small business that is very similar to her first two congressional bids in a more conservative district. Her ads and other activities have focused heavily on her background, including her work on former President Barack Obama’s automotive task force, efforts to get more women and girls into science, technology and engineering careers, and work to address semiconductor shortages and gun violence. He won the endorsements of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and retired U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence of Southfield, who represents key parts of the new district. In Auburn Hills, JoAnne Barnes, 68, said she supported Stevens’ re-election Tuesday. “She’s very passionate, personable and has done a great job so far,” Barnes said. “I haven’t heard about the controversy over Israel’s money, but I don’t think it will affect it much.” Brittany Taylor, 33, of Pleasant Ridge said Tuesday she was “sad to have to choose” between Stevens and Levin, but voted for Levin because of his passion for abortion rights. “What really put me off was when he was protesting abortion rights” outside the U.S. Supreme Court after the high court overturned Roe v. Wade, Taylor said. “It was too strong for me.” Levin’s union background swayed West Bloomfield voters Lisa and Matthew Wigent, both 54. They said it set him apart from Stevens. “Everybody’s talking about reproductive rights and it’s very important to me, but I feel like every Democrat I could possibly have would be strong on this issue right now,” Lisa Widgent said. “But labor rights are very important to me and a lot of people don’t talk about them, and I think that’s something I would lean more toward Levin.” Levin, a progressive, sought to create a sharper contrast between the pair by emphasizing his record in union organizing, the Green New Deal and abortion rights. He was notably more aggressive in his approach, painting his opponent as a flip-flopper who took donations from corporate political action committees and voted based on what was most politically convenient. We offer great value on digital subscriptions. Click here. His message emphasized his priorities for protecting workers and voting rights. He also hits out at areas where his positions differ from Stevens, such as closing Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac and adopting a single-payer health care system. Levin was backed by the climate-focused Sunrise Movement and progressive heavyweights US Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. He protested the level of AIPAC spending against him as a Jewish candidate, claiming that he would not tolerate any criticism of Israel. That won’t change Levin’s support for a two-state solution or civil and human rights for the Palestinians, he said, warning of the excessive influence of a Republican-funded lobby in a Democratic primary. “I pestered Rep. Stevens not to take that money, and many others did. He took it anyway. He never said a word about it,” Levin said earlier this week. “I don’t think it’s okay for the future of the Democratic Party to allow our Democratic primaries to be funded by right-wing interest groups.” Stevens noted that her positions on Israel are in line with the majority of the House Democratic caucus and said she will continue to affirm her belief in a strong US-Israel relationship. “I think it’s unusual to run an entire campaign on outside spending when my opponent is running on so many other values and principles,” he said. “I think people would love to hear him on that.” In the Republican primary, Mark Ambrose of Bloomfield Township led Matthew DenOtter of Waterford Township 70 percent to 30 percent in unofficial returns late Tuesday. [email protected] Staff writer Carol Thompson contributed.
