Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Progressive Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan U.S. Senate Primary
People in the state of Michigan voted to choose the Democratic Party's candidate for the U.S. Senate.
According to U.S. news media, a doctor named Abdul El-Sayed won that vote.
He beat Haley Stevens, a member of Congress who had support from many Democratic leaders and pro-Israel groups.
El-Sayed talked about making healthcare better, helping the economy, and ending unconditional military aid to Israel.
His win is historic because he is the first progressive to win a statewide primary in a state Donald Trump won in 2024.
If El-Sayed wins the big election in November, he would be the first Muslim person elected to the U.S. Senate.
Many of his supporters want the Democratic Party to be bolder and take a tougher approach toward Israel.
Others worried he might be too liberal to win against Republican Mike Rogers in November.
Now El-Sayed will face Rogers in the November election, and people across the country are watching closely.
Some Democrats are excited about his outsider message, while others are divided over what it means for the party's future.
U.S. media projected that progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won Michigan's Democratic U.S. Senate primary, defeating moderate U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens.
El-Sayed, a 41-year-old doctor backed by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, campaigned on healthcare, the economy, and ending unconditional military aid to Israel.
He is the first progressive to win a statewide primary in a state Donald Trump carried in 2024; with 99% of estimated votes counted he led 48.5% to 47.5%.
Stevens was supported by Democratic leaders including Chuck Schumer and Gretchen Whitmer and benefited from tens of millions of dollars in spending by a pro-Israel super PAC.
El-Sayed will face Republican former congressman Mike Rogers in November and would be the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate if he prevails.
- Who
- Abdul El-Sayed, a 41-year-old progressive physician backed by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who narrowly defeated U.S. Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic U.S. Senate primary; he will face Republican Mike Rogers in November.
- What
- El-Sayed won Michigan's U.S. Senate Democratic primary, becoming the first progressive to win a statewide primary in a state Donald Trump carried in 2024; he would be the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate if he prevails in November.
- When
- Tuesday's primary vote, with U.S. media projecting El-Sayed's narrow victory early Wednesday, Aug. 5; with 99% of estimated votes counted he led 48.5% to 47.5%.
- Where
- Michigan, a Midwestern swing state home to some of the country's largest Arab American communities.
- Why
- The race was a battleground between progressives and moderates over support for Israel and the party's direction; El-Sayed's economic populist, anti-establishment message resonated in a state Democrats must win to keep hopes of securing a Senate majority in November.
Progressives / El-Sayed Supporters
Moderates / Stevens Supporters
U.S. policy toward Israel
Progressives / El-Sayed Supporters
El-Sayed campaigned on ending unconditional military aid to Israel and a tougher approach toward Israel, a message that resonated with Michigan's large Arab American communities; a Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 16% of Democrats backed continued military and economic aid to Israel, while 57% opposed it.
Moderates / Stevens Supporters
Stevens was supported by Democratic leaders and pro-Israel groups and benefited from tens of millions of dollars in spending by a pro-Israel super PAC; Republicans attacked El-Sayed as 'dangerous' and 'radical,' and Trump called him 'a Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel.'
Electability and party direction
Progressives / El-Sayed Supporters
El-Sayed's backers said his anti-establishment, economic populist campaign energized liberal and young voters and would increase turnout; his win is a capstone for the party's left wing and is being studied by prospective 2028 presidential contenders.
Moderates / Stevens Supporters
Stevens supporters argued she was the more electable candidate in a state Trump won twice in the last three presidential elections; centrist Will Marshall of the Progressive Policy Institute warned the 'socialist surge' is more likely to burden Democrats with working-class voters.
- Projected winner
- Abdul El-Sayed (progressive physician)
- Runner-up
- U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (moderate)
- Vote count
- El-Sayed led 48.5% to 47.5% with 99% of estimated votes counted (Associated Press)
- General election opponent
- Mike Rogers (Republican, former U.S. representative)
- Campaign platform
- Healthcare, the economy, ending unconditional military aid to Israel
- Historic significance
- First progressive statewide primary win in a state Donald Trump carried in 2024; would be first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate
- High-profile endorsements
- El-Sayed: Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren; Stevens: Chuck Schumer, Gretchen Whitmer
- Seat being vacated
- Retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters
