An outsider takes the primary
Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health commissioner, won the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan on Tuesday. He defeated Representative Haley Stevens, a two-term congresswoman backed by much of the party establishment. The race was one of the most watched primaries of the year because Michigan is a battleground state that could decide control of the Senate.
El-Sayed ran on a platform of universal health care, higher taxes on the wealthy, and aggressive action on climate change. He called himself the true progressive in the race. His campaign leaned on young voters and organized labor. County officials said turnout in Detroit and college towns was high.
A test for the party's direction
The result is a win for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. But the picture across the country is mixed. In Missouri, Representative Wesley Bell beat former Representative Cori Bush in a rematch, ending the progressive's comeback attempt. In Kansas, a pastor won the Democratic Senate primary, giving the party hope in a deep-red state. A progressive also won a House primary in a battleground Michigan district.
Party leaders said the Michigan result shows Democrats can win with bold messages in battleground states. Republicans called El-Sayed too far left for general election voters. National polls show the Senate race is likely to be close in November.
What happens next
El-Sayed now turns to the general election, where control of the Senate may hang on the outcome. He will need to hold the coalition he built in the primary while winning over moderate voters. His campaign said it will focus on jobs, health care costs, and housing. The Republican nominee has yet to be chosen, and both parties expect one of the most expensive Senate races in the country this fall.