Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed has secured victory in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, defeating moderate Congresswoman Haley Stevens in a closely contested race that highlighted deep divisions within the Democratic Party ahead of the US midterm elections.
The former public health official is projected to narrowly win the nomination after finishing fewer than 15,000 votes ahead of Stevens, a margin of less than one percentage point from more than 1.5 million ballots counted.
Addressing supporters after the result, El-Sayed quoted legendary boxer Muhammad Ali’s famous words following his historic upset victory over Sonny Liston, saying, “We shook up the world.”
The victory sends El-Sayed into a pivotal general election contest against Republican candidate Mike Rogers, a close ally of President Donald Trump. The November election is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country, with control of the US Senate potentially at stake.
If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim to serve in the United States Senate.
Throughout his campaign, El-Sayed promoted a progressive platform that included Medicare for All, campaign finance reform and policies aimed at reducing the influence of money in politics.
“The movement to get money out of politics, put money in your pocket, and pass Medicare for All is a big movement,” El-Sayed said after his victory.
Despite the hard-fought primary campaign, Stevens quickly endorsed her former rival, congratulating him on securing the Democratic nomination and pledging her support in the general election against Rogers.
President Donald Trump reacted to the result on his Truth Social platform, describing it as “great news” for Republicans and arguing that Democratic policies would become even more left-wing under El-Sayed’s candidacy.
Speaking to supporters before the final outcome was confirmed, El-Sayed called for party unity, saying Democrats must come together to prevent Rogers from winning the Senate seat in November.
The primary campaign exposed significant ideological differences within the Democratic Party. El-Sayed received endorsements from prominent progressive leaders, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while advocating universal healthcare, immigration reform and other left-wing policies.
Stevens positioned herself as a moderate Democrat capable of appealing to independent and swing voters. She focused much of her campaign on protecting Michigan’s manufacturing industry and received endorsements from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and retiring Senator Gary Peters.
One of the campaign’s most divisive issues was US policy toward Israel.
El-Sayed criticised continued American military involvement in the Middle East and opposed unconditional US aid to Israel. Stevens maintained a strongly pro-Israel position, supporting continued US assistance without conditions.
El-Sayed’s views generated both support and criticism within Michigan’s Jewish community. He rejected accusations of antisemitism and said it was possible to condemn antisemitism while also recognising the suffering experienced by all communities.
The Senate seat is currently held by a retiring Democrat. Michigan has not elected a Republican senator since 1994, making the race a key opportunity for both parties as they compete for control of the Senate.
Michigan remains one of the nation’s most important political battlegrounds. The state voted for Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election before backing Donald Trump in 2024, reinforcing its status as a crucial swing state.
Elsewhere in Tuesday’s primary elections, Kansas voters selected Democratic State Senator Cindy Holsher and Republican Ty Masterson to compete for governor in November.
In Missouri, voters rejected a Republican-backed constitutional amendment that would have made citizen-led ballot initiatives more difficult to pass, while several congressional primaries also highlighted continuing divisions within both major political parties.
