Progressive public health advocate Abdul El-Sayed has secured the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in Michigan, successfully navigating a high-stakes primary marked by more than $60 million in campaign spending, much of which originated from pro-Israel organizations. The Associated Press and other major news outlets called the contest for El-Sayed on Wednesday, more than 12 hours after polls closed, with the candidate holding a narrow one percent lead.
The victory serves as a significant setback for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which spearheaded the effort to unseat El-Sayed by directing over $30 million in support toward his opponent, Congresswoman Haley Stevens. The primary, held on Tuesday, is expected to have lasting implications for Democratic Party policy regarding Middle Eastern conflicts.
El-Sayed, who is of Egyptian descent, is now set to face former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in the November general election. This upcoming race is viewed as a pivotal contest that could influence which party holds control of the Senate for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term. If successful in November, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim senator in American history.
The candidate has positioned himself as a critic of current policies, explicitly recognizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. He advocates for redirecting funds currently spent on conflicts benefiting Israel toward domestic priorities, including housing, healthcare, and infrastructure improvements.
Maya Berry, executive director of the non-partisan Arab American Institute, described the win as a “big deal.” She noted that voters “did not buy” the barrage of negative advertisements, which she characterized as avoiding policy discussions in favor of personal attacks targeting El-Sayed’s identity as an Arab American Muslim man. “I am thrilled for the rest of the country to learn that Michigan is not going to take it,” Berry stated.
The campaign saw Stevens and her allies attempt to portray El-Sayed as sexist, a tactic that advocates argued relied on harmful tropes regarding Arab men. Despite polling that initially suggested a comfortable lead for El-Sayed, Stevens performed better than expected, particularly within Detroit, forcing a tense, hours-long wait for final results.
Following the race call, Stevens offered her endorsement to El-Sayed, describing him as a doctor, community health official, and Rhodes Scholar. Other prominent Democrats, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Gary Peters, who had previously supported Stevens, also pledged their backing for El-Sayed in the general election.
NBC News was the first network to project the win on Tuesday night, prompting state legislator Mallory McMorrow, who had dropped out of the Senate race weeks prior, to immediately endorse the nominee. El-Sayed has since called for unity within the party, urging supporters to “begin to mend fences” and practice “magnanimity in victory” rather than focusing on past grievances.
“Let’s come together to build a movement that’s even bigger, that’s even stronger, that’s even more powerful,” El-Sayed said. He warned that the primary battle “pales in comparison to the cynicism” expected from the Republican opposition, specifically targeting Mike Rogers and Donald Trump. “Mike – and I know you’re listening, Mike – we are coming for you,” he declared.
President Trump responded to the results on social media, labeling the outcome “great news” for Republicans. He attacked the nominee, calling him a “Communist loser” and a “Socialist,” while also criticizing the accuracy of the polls and suggesting that Democratic policies would continue to deteriorate.
The result in Michigan, a key swing state that supported Trump in 2024, highlights a growing trend of election defeats for pro-Israel Democrats as public opinion shifts. AIPAC’s heavy involvement in the race follows their similar efforts in 2022 to defeat progressive Jewish legislator Andy Levin.
El-Sayed has vowed to maintain an aggressive stance against Rogers in the general election, characterizing his opponent as a candidate beholden to corporate interests and the former president. As the campaign shifts toward November, the nominee intends to focus on building a broad coalition to secure the seat.
“I’m going to ask all of us as we think about where we go from here, always magnanimity in victory,” he said.
“So if your instinct is to be like ‘I told you,’ no.
El-Sayed recognises Israel’s atrocities in Gaza as a genocide and argues that money spent on conflicts that benefit Israel should be invested in local communities in the US to address healthcare, housing and infrastructure problems.
As the night went on, Stevens kept closing in on a lead that El-Sayed had built in from early returns.
“As usual, the Polls were way off on this one.
Now, the Dumocrats crazy policies will only get worse!”
Source: Aljazeera
