Topline
Progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary against Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich.—the latest test of the left flank’s influence in the party after a string of high-profile wins this primary season.
Key Facts
El-Sayed won 48.5% of votes when the race was called by the Associated Press Wednesday morning with 99% of votes counted, compared to 47.5% for Stevens—results much closer than expected as most polls leading up to election day showed El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and former public health official, leading by double digits.
El-Sayed declared victory early Wednesday, after NBC called the race, but hours before the results were finalized by the Associated Press, writing on X, “We won. I am so proud to be your Democratic nominee for US Senate. Let’s win in November.”
He will go on to face Trump-backed former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who lost a Senate race to Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., in 2024, and the winner will replace retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters in what Cook Political Report rates as a toss-up contest.
The primary pitted the party’s progressive wing against establishment Democrats—El-Sayed was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Stevens.
In another win for progressives in Michigan on Tuesday, state Rep. Donavan McKinney, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, beat incumbent Rep. Shri Thaendar in the primary to represent the Detroit-area district.
Crucial Quote
President Donald Trump said El-Sayed’s win is “great news for the Republican Party,” calling him a “Communist,” in a Truth Social post noting “the Polls were way off on this one.” Trump and his allies have frequently attacked left-wing Democrats as “communists” as the movement has notched high-profile electoral victories.
Big Number
4. That’s the number of Senate races rated toss-ups by Cook Political Report, including the contest in Michigan. The three others are held by Republicans, who currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
Tangent
Stevens was heavily backed by groups affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee as support for Israel was a flashpoint in the race. El-Sayed has accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza and has criticized U.S. aid to Israel. Stevens has consistently voted for continuing U.S. military aid to Israel, but has also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and denounced any notion that her votes in Congress are influenced by pro-Israel campaign donations.
Key Background
El-Sayed’s victory is among several for progressives this midterm cycle. In June, three candidates backed by New York City’s Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani won their primaries in New York, ousting two incumbents, Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman. In Colorado last month, Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros defeated 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette in a Democratic congressional primary. El-Sayed, however, rejects the socialist label and instead bills himself as a progressive.
further reading
Mamdani-Endorsed Candidates Win New York Primaries (Forbes)