A PROGRESSIVE INSURGENT Democrat defeated the party establishment\u2019s candidate to score a stunning win today in the primary race for the US Senate in a bitter competition that became a referendum on the changing face of the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official, narrowly beat veteran politician Haley Stevens by a single percentage point (less than 15,000 votes) after a bruising race in the US state of Michigan.<\/p>\n
El-Sayed will now run in November\u2019s midterm election for the US Senate against Republican Mike Rogers.<\/p>\n
\nThe rules of the game have changed. Because of you, Michigan. We cannot be bought.<\/p>\n
Onto November. pic.twitter.com\/KgjekKie4q<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) August 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In a swing state that has twice narrowly backed Trump for president, that will be one of a handful of key battles deciding whether the Democrats can claw their way to controlling the Senate.<\/p>\n
While Democrats are bullish that they can win the House of Representatives from Republicans in November, the Senate contest will be far harder.<\/p>\n
To secure the Senate, and thereby the ability to shut down much of Trump\u2019s agenda for the rest of his term, Democrats must keep Michigan while flipping four Republican-held seats around the country.<\/p>\n
Mainstream Democratic Party leaders had backed Stevens, thinking she was more likely to appeal to a broader group of voters and give them the best chance to hold the Senate seat, which is being vacated by a retiring Democrat.<\/p>\n
But El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director backed by left-leaning party leaders Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, electrified voters and overcame Stevens\u2019s vastly bigger campaign budget.<\/p>\n
\nNEW: Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan!<\/p>\n
Together, we will keep this seat blue and send Abdul to the Senate. pic.twitter.com\/wWoSihBcED<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Democrats (@TheDemocrats) August 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Despite his left-wing stances, El-Sayed is not a member of the ascendant Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) wing of the party and rejects the socialist label as unhelpful.<\/p>\n
He is, however, still taking lessons from party colleagues who are democratic socialists, especially New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose social media prowess and focus on affordability helped propel him to victory last year.<\/p>\n
But while left-wing Democrats have seen a wave of victories during this summer\u2019s primaries \u2013 including in Colorado \u2013 it remains to be seen whether they can woo back disillusioned working-class voters who flocked to Trump in 2024.<\/p>\n
For his part, El-Sayed has cast himself as a working-class fighter willing to confront corporations, party leaders and increasingly unpopular pro-Israel donors, including the lobby group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).<\/p>\n
Stevens swiftly conceded to El-Sayed, saying she would \u201coffer him my full support as we work to defeat Mike Rogers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump quickly shot off his own message, branding El-Sayed \u201ca Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel,\u201d and saying his win was \u201cgreat news for the Republican Party\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nBREAKING: Trump declares Abdul El-Sayed Michigan Senate primary win ‘great news’ for Republicans pic.twitter.com\/OrlfYzBWks<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Fox News (@FoxNews) August 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cNow, the Dumocrats crazy policies will only get worse!\u201d Trump added.\n<\/p>\n
Volunteer energy<\/p>\n
El-Sayed\u2019s allies say the campaign\u2019s volunteer energy proves progressives can build a statewide coalition without relying on Washington\u2019s traditional donor network.<\/p>\n
The campaign also laid bare bitter divides over the United States\u2019 deep support for Israel.<\/p>\n
Stevens defended continued military backing for the country and rejected accusations that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.<\/p>\n
El-Sayed has called for an end to unconditional US aid, attacked the influence of the AIPAC lobby group, and said Israel should not exist specifically as a Jewish state.<\/p>\n
AIPAC spending and outside advertising in a state with a large Arab American population and deep anger over the Gaza war, has made Michigan another national test of the pro-Israel lobby\u2019s ability to shape Democratic primaries.<\/p>\n
AIPAC\u2019s affiliated super PAC, the United Democracy Project (UDP), spent over $31 million (\u20ac26.83 million) supporting Stevens in the Senate primary. This marked the largest single-race investment ever made by the organisation.<\/p>\n
\nAbdul El-Sayed: <\/p>\n
\u201cAIPAC and Israel are not the same as Judaism and the Jewish people. <\/p>\n
I love Judaism and I love the Jewish people. <\/p>\n
The most dangerous thing is expanding antisemitism to include criticism of Israel.\u201d <\/p>\n
He is absolutely right! pic.twitter.com\/5s3HH9bZvw<\/a><\/p>\n