Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, overcoming a well-funded campaign by Rep. Haley Stevens to secure the nomination in one of the country's most closely watched races ahead of the November midterm elections.
The former Wayne County public health official will now face former Rep. Mike Rogers, who won the Republican nomination unopposed after receiving an early endorsement from President Donald Trump. The Michigan race is expected to be among the most competitive Senate contests this year and could play a key role in determining control of the chamber.
El-Sayed's victory marks a significant win for the Democratic Party's progressive wing in a battleground state. Backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, he defeated Stevens despite her support from much of the Democratic establishment, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and retiring Sen. Gary Peters, NBC News says.
The primary became one of the most expensive Democratic Senate contests in recent memory. Stevens and allied outside groups spent tens of millions of dollars on advertising, including support from organizations affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), while El-Sayed ran on a grassroots campaign centered on healthcare, economic inequality and reducing the influence of money in politics.
Throughout the campaign, El-Sayed promoted policies including Medicare for All and criticized continued U.S. military support for Israel, a position that resonated with many voters in Michigan, home to one of the nation's largest Arab American communities, Reuters said. The contest became a broader test of whether progressive candidates could win statewide in a politically divided Midwestern state after similar victories in Democratic primaries elsewhere this year.
Republicans have argued that El-Sayed's progressive platform could make him more vulnerable in the general election. Trump said in a Fox News interview Tuesday that Rogers would fare better against El-Sayed than Stevens, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee had previously highlighted El-Sayed's progressive credentials during the primary campaign, Associated Press reported.
The November race will fill the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who is retiring rather than seeking a third term. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, making Michigan one of several key battlegrounds that could determine whether Democrats can regain control of the chamber.
Following her defeat, Stevens pledged to support El-Sayed in the general election, while former state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who exited the Democratic primary last month and endorsed El-Sayed, also called for party unity heading into November.
