Progressive Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Primary Amid Trump’s Sharp Criticism
Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim progressive candidate, has been declared the winner of the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, narrowly defeating moderate and pro-Israel candidate Haley Stevens. With 98.7% of votes counted, El-Sayed led with 48.5% against Stevens’ 47.5%. Stevens called El-Sayed to congratulate him and pledged her support for the November general election against Republican Mike Rogers.
El-Sayed, a 41-year-old medical doctor dubbed the "Obama of Michigan," is a vocal critic of Israel, accusing it of apartheid and genocide, calling to halt all aid, and rejecting its right to exist as a Jewish state. Stevens received substantial backing from moderate Democrats and pro-Israel groups, notably the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, which contributed $32 million to her campaign, part of a total $62.2 million spent compared to El-Sayed’s $2.1 million.
President Donald Trump sharply attacked El-Sayed on his social media platform Truth Social, labeling him a "loser, communist who hates Jews and Israel," and warned of worsening policies under Democrats. Michigan, a swing state Trump won in 2020 and where Rogers narrowly lost a previous Senate race, is now seen as a critical test for progressive Democrats’ ability to win key states in upcoming elections.
