DETROIT -- Establishment Democrats sought to build a firewall in Michigan against a rising progressive and socialist groundswell in their party that they fear will hurt their chances in competitive races in November's midterm elections.
It didn't work.
Progressive firebrand Abdul El-Sayed beat four-term Rep. Haley Stevens to win the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in this battleground state , according to the Associated Press. His victory in Tuesday's primary could hurt his party's prospects of winning control of the Senate this fall, according to late-July polling in the state.
With 96% of the expected vote tallied, El-Sayed led Stevens 48.5% to 47.5%, the AP reported.
The fight between El-Sayed, a former local public health official, and Stevens served as a referendum on the party's identity and how it can win more competitive elections. The establishment wing has asserted that battleground districts and states are won by wooing independent voters with moderate policy ideas, while the far-left has argued voters are eager for dramatic change amid widespread skepticism of government and widening economic disparity.
Michigan Republicans nominated former Rep. Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost the state's 2024 Senate race. The seat is being vacated by Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat who chose not to seek a third term.
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