Far-left Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary sets the stage for a high-stakes general election against Republican Mike Rogers in a race critical to Senate control.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan‘s Democratic U.S. Senate primary, handing the party’s left wing a major victory in one of the nation’s most closely watched battleground races. Backed by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), El-Sayed campaigned on “Medicare for All,” ending U.S. military aid to Israel, and sweeping campaign finance reforms, while portraying himself as an anti-establishment alternative to Democratic insiders. 📺 DETAIL: Stevens, who was supported by retiring Sen. Gary Peters and benefited from more than $50 million in outside spending, including over $30 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliates, conceded the race and pledged to support El-Sayed in November. Republicans have already rallied behind former Congressman Mike Rogers, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary and is expected to make the race one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country. Democrats view the Michigan seat as essential to any chance of reclaiming control of the Senate during President Donald J. Trump‘s final two years in office. El-Sayed urged Democrats to unite after the contentious primary, saying the party must come together to prevent Rogers from winning the seat. Earlier this year, El-Sayed refused to comment on the killing of Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as a leaked audio revealed he was concerned with upsetting Muslims in Dearborn who might admire the slain Iranian Supreme Leader. 🎯 IMPACT: The general election between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination, is expected to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. Control of the Senate could potentially hinge on this seat, making it a must-win for Democrats. Republicans have already allocated significant resources to support Rogers in the general election. |
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