DETROIT (Azat TV) – In a major victory for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, former public health official Abdul El-Sayed has won the Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary, according to projects by NBC News. The high-stakes race, which saw tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, immediately prompted an endorsement and a call for party unity from his former primary rival, state Senator Mallory McMorrow.
El-Sayed’s projected victory marks a significant milestone for progressive organizers in the industrial Midwest. He managed to overcome a massive, nearly $65 million spending onslaught from outside groups and an establishment alignment that rallied behind his primary opponent, four-term Representative Haley Stevens. The race now sets up a highly competitive November general election matchup against former Republican Representative Mike Rogers, which could ultimately decide control of the U.S. Senate.
A Swift Call for Democratic Unity
Shortly after NBC News projected El-Sayed as the winner early Wednesday morning, state Senator Mallory McMorrow issued a formal statement offering her full endorsement. McMorrow had dropped out of the primary race a month prior, attempting to position herself as a compromise candidate between the moderate and progressive wings, though her name remained on the ballot because absentee voting was already underway.
“I’m proud to give Abdul my full endorsement and support as we head to November together as a unified party,” McMorrow said in an emailed statement. “Take it from me — this was a brutal primary. But whatever differences there were between the candidates in this race, those differences are nothing compared to the contrast in November.”
The endorsement came even as Representative Stevens had not yet officially conceded, and the Associated Press had not finalized its projection. Early Wednesday, El-Sayed held a narrow but steady lead as votes continued to be tallied across the battleground state.
Overcoming a $65 Million Onslaught
The Democratic primary was defined by intense spending and sharp ideological contrasts. Stevens and her allied super PACs outspent El-Sayed’s campaign by nearly a nine-to-one margin. A significant portion of this funding came from groups affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which directed over $30 million toward television ads supporting Stevens and criticizing El-Sayed.
El-Sayed, who rejected corporate political action committee (PAC) donations, leaned heavily on grassroots organizing, labor support, and national progressive figures. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York campaigned extensively across Michigan on his behalf. Additionally, the United Auto Workers (UAW)—a powerful political force in the state—endorsed El-Sayed, bolstering his appeal among working-class voters.
“If you need a $60 million crutch, you probably can’t be elected on your own terms,” El-Sayed argued during a Detroit debate, highlighting his campaign’s focus on reducing the influence of big money in American politics.
Establishment Pushback and Ideological Clashes
The primary served as a battleground for the soul of the state’s Democratic Party. In the final weeks of the campaign, the party establishment made a coordinated effort to stop El-Sayed’s momentum. Popular Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer—who had defeated El-Sayed in the 2018 gubernatorial primary—endorsed Stevens, as did retiring Senator Gary Peters and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Stevens centered her campaign on her legislative experience and her alignment with the state’s political leadership, accusing El-Sayed of prioritizing national progressive talking points over the immediate needs of Michigan residents. She also targeted El-Sayed over a leaked donor call in which he suggested his victory could inspire primary challenges against moderate Senate Democrats, such as Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman, whom El-Sayed referred to as an “ogre.”
However, El-Sayed’s progressive platform—including his support for “Medicare for All” and his outspoken criticism of U.S. military aid to Israel—resonated strongly with Michigan’s diverse electorate, particularly its significant Arab American and Muslim populations. El-Sayed’s focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and his accusation that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians became a central pillar of his campaign, drawing a sharp contrast with Stevens’ steadfast pro-Israel stance.
The Road to November
With the primary concluded, the focus shifts to the general election. Republicans currently hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate, making the Michigan seat vacated by Senator Gary Peters one of the most critical targets for both parties.
El-Sayed will face Republican nominee Mike Rogers, who secured his party’s nomination unopposed with the early endorsement of former President Donald Trump. National Republicans have already signaled that they view El-Sayed’s progressive positions as an asset for their campaign. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) even ran digital ads highlighting El-Sayed’s progressive credentials during the primary, a tactic widely interpreted as an attempt to elevate him, believing he would be easier to defeat in a statewide general election.
As the general election campaign begins, McMorrow’s rapid endorsement serves as an initial step toward healing the deep divisions exposed during the primary, though El-Sayed must still convince moderate swing voters and establishment donors to back his populist platform in November.