Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive doctor and the son of Muslim immigrants, won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary on Wednesday, becoming the first progressive to win a statewide primary in a state that Donald Trump carried in 2024. His victory is a high-profile boost for the party's anti-establishment wing ahead of November's midterm elections. He will face a Republican candidate in the general election.
El-Sayed's campaign centered on healthcare, the economy, and ending unconditional military aid to Israel. He overcame significant financial disadvantages, being outspent by more than nine to one in what was the most expensive Democratic congressional primary ever. His opponent, Haley Stevens, received over $60 million in funding from groups including Chevron and Philip Morris. Nearly half of that amount came from a super PAC backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Following the win, El-Sayed joined Twitch streamer Hasan Piker in mocking Democratic strategist James Carville, who had threatened to leave the party. The exchange highlighted ongoing tensions between the party's progressive and centrist factions.