Competitive State Senate Primaries To Watch Ahead Of Aug. 4

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 02/02/2026) The Aug. 4 primaries are 183 days for Michigan, and MIRS recently looked at some contested primaries to watch in the state Senate, as 18 of the chamber's 38 seats will for certain not have incumbents running for reelection in them.

See all the Senate campaign fundraising for the reporting period between Oct. 21 and Dec. 31 in this spreadsheet compiled by Simon Schuster of Bridge Michigan.

LaFave-Versus-Prestin In The Upper Peninsula

An obvious primary to watch is for Republicans in the 38th Senate district, where former Iron Mountain Rep. Beau LaFave and Rep. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) are competing to replace term-limited Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Twp.).

Prestin, who was backed by the Upper Peninsula's current delegation in the Legislature, has $38,225 on the balance sheet for the start of 2026, while LaFave — who made an unsuccessful run for Secretary of State in 2022 — had $1,333. In total, Prestin raised $43,425 into his candidate account last year, and LaFave raised $2,925 so far in the 2026 cycle.

However, LaFave's often unfiltered communication style and crude humor, especially against critics, has gained him a unique following. In November, a poll of 363 likely Republican primary voters in the U.P. showed LaFave defeating Prestin in a head-to-head matchup with nearly 60 percent of the vote.

Prestin, on the other hand, hired the professional campaign firm Bright Spark Strategies with Heather Lombardini, which was the elections messaging firm favored by previous Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey. The firm has experience navigating competitive Republican primaries successfully.

Southwest Michigan's 20th Senate District

In the race to replace term-limited Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), 28-year-old Paw Paw Republican Chris Moraitis is facing off against 35-year-old Kenny Clevenger, the Casco Township treasurer and former chair of the Allegan County Republican Party.

Moraitis, who's both the law firm partner and son-in-law of former local Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, raised $12,408 from Oct. 25 through the end of 2025, raising $114,042 overall last year and beginning the new year with $96,841. Despite his political resume, Clevenger is lagging behind Moraitis, with $3,573 raised in the January period, $46,921 throughout last year and $34,459 still sitting in the account.

Clevenger also has $31,863 in debt.

The New 10th, Oakland County And Warren

In the race to represent the new 10th Senate district — including Oakland County communities like Royal Oak, Ferndale and Oak Park, as well as parts of Warren in Macomb County — Rep. Natalie Price (D-Berkley) is trying to transition from House-to-Senate this election cycle.

However, she's facing off against Amanda Treppa, who oversees human resources for Detroit Action, the social and economic justice advocacy group. Treppa has been endorsed by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), the U.S. Senate candidate who represents southern Oakland County. Her campaign's senior advisor is also Chris Scott, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield's recent campaign manager.

Price came in hot this period with $30,321 raised, $100,916 in total donations for 2025 and $38,477 was still available in her account at the end of the year. Treppa raised $11,870 during the January period, $111,886 overall for 2025 and has $35,351 on the balance sheet.

Aiyash Makes Big Fundraising Splash In 1st

Another high-intensity primary will be between former House Majority Leader Abraham Aiyash — who relocated from Hamtramck to Detroit to run in the new 1st Senate district — and Justin Onwenu, Detroit's entrepreneurship director.

The progressive Aiyash demonstrated his fundraising strength in the January period, reporting $143,912 in contributions and a $143,753 closing balance to kick off 2026. Onwenu, who officially launched his campaign more than two months ahead of Aiyash, raised $92,165 in all of 2025 and had $83,165 in cash on-hand going into the new year.

Montcalm, Newaygo County-Based 33rd District Heating Up

The Republican primary to replace term-limited Sen Rick Outman (R-Six Lakes) already includes two state representatives, the former head of the Michigan Conservative Union and a Kent County commissioner (the district contains part of Kent County).

Kent County Commissioner Katie DeBoer won the fundraising period among the four GOP candidates, raising $52,170 to finish off 2025 and kicking off 2026 with $53,689 on the balance sheet.

Rep. Gina Johnsen (R-Portland), who started fundraising in late August for the Senate seat, has raised $75,870 overall for 2025 and has $30,431 in cash on-hand.

Thomas Norton, the Michigan Conservative Union's former president who tried running for the U.S. House in 2020 and 2022, has $21,448 left on the balance sheet after raising $26,010 all of 2025. Rep. Joseph Fox (R-Fremont) received $18,871 in total contributions last year and has $9,867 in cash on-hand.

'Uncommitted National Movement' Co-Founder Leads In SD-2 Fundraising

Things have been shaken up in the 2nd Senate district, including all of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Lansing insiders previously anticipated a battle between Reps. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) and Tullio Liberati, Jr. (D-Allen Park).

But then Abbas Alawieh, the community advisor of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, received both a successful January period report and an endorsement by Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

Alawieh — a leader in the effort to vote uncommitted in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary, protesting President Joe Biden's policies on the Gaza war — raised $142,153 in the January period. He kicked off 2026 with $112,560 in cash on-hand.

Byrnes, who kicked off her campaign in June of last year, raised $23,214 all of last year and has a $15,840 closing balance, and Liberati raised $3,000 total in 2025 and has $2,964 in cash on-hand.