Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens ahead of the states U.S. Senate Democratic primary.Stevens, a more centrist candidate, and progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed are considered the front-runners in the race as early voting starts on Saturday.Whitmers endorsement could give Stevens a boost in a state where the governor twice won by considerable margins.DEMOCRATS' CIVIL WAR HEADS TO MICHIGAN WHERE PROGRESSIVES FACE BIGGEST TEST YET IN HIGH-STAKES SENATE SHOWDOWNThe governor also beat El-Sayed in the Democratic primary for governor in 2018.Whitmer told supporters at a Teamsters hall in Detroit on Friday that Stevens has "what it takes to win" while appearing with her and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn."Michiganders need a fighter in Washington and there are few leaders with more fight in em than Haley Stevens," Whitmer said at the event.SWING-STATE POLL SPELLS TROUBLE FOR FAR LEFT AS SCHUMER-BACKED CANDIDATE DOMINATES WITH CRITICAL VOTING BLOCSStevens, who flipped a Republican House seat in 2018, is also backed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, a two-term Democrat who is retiring from the seat.Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are backing El-Sayed."The corporate establishment has closed ranks and made their pick now, Michigan voters will get to make theirs," Roxie Richner, a spokesperson for El-Sayed, told the Associated Press.JEWISH MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS ADMIT THEY WILL VOTE REPUBLICAN IF ABDUL EL-SAYED BECOMES NOMINEEMichigans Democratic primary is on Aug. 4 and the winner will face Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in November.Democrats want to flip the U.S. Senate from narrow Republican control and must hold Michigan to do so.The Associated Press contributed to this report.