Progressive public health advocate Abdul El-Sayed has clinched the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in Michigan. The Associated Press and other major news outlets called the narrow race on Wednesday, more than 12 hours after polls closed on Tuesday, with El-Sayed holding a one-percent lead over his opponent, Congresswoman Haley Stevens.
The victory marks a significant setback for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which spearheaded efforts to defeat El-Sayed by pouring more than $30 million into the race to support Stevens. In total, the contest saw over $60 million in campaign spending, with the vast majority coming from pro-Israel groups.
El-Sayed, who is of Egyptian descent, is now set to face former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in the November general election. This contest is viewed as a critical battleground that could influence which party controls 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 Michigan primary results carry substantial weight for Democratic policy regarding Middle East conflicts. El-Sayed has characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and advocates for redirecting funds currently supporting such conflicts toward domestic priorities, including healthcare, housing, and infrastructure.
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 wave of negative advertising that avoided policy discussions and instead focused on attacking “an Arab American Muslim man named Abdul.” Berry added that she is thrilled to see Michigan reject such tactics.
During the campaign, Stevens and her allies attempted to portray El-Sayed as sexist, a strategy that advocates argued relied on harmful tropes regarding Arab men. Stevens, a staunch supporter of Israel, previously received heavy backing from AIPAC in 2022 when she defeated progressive Jewish legislator Andy Levin.
While initial polling suggested a comfortable win for El-Sayed, Stevens outperformed expectations, particularly in Detroit. The race remained too close to call for several hours as Stevens steadily narrowed the lead El-Sayed had established in early returns.
Following the race call, El-Sayed addressed his supporters, emphasizing a need for unity. “I’m going to ask all of us as we think about where we go from here, always magnanimity in victory,” he said, urging his base to “begin to mend fences” within the party. He warned that the primary battle “pales in comparison to the cynicism” expected from the opposition in the general election, specifically targeting his Republican rival: “Mike – and I know you’re listening, Mike – we are coming for you.”
Stevens offered her concession and endorsement shortly after the result was confirmed, calling El-Sayed a “doctor, a community health official, a Rhodes Scholar, and a dedicated Michigander.” Other prominent Democrats, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Gary Peters—both of whom had previously backed Stevens—also voiced their support for El-Sayed’s general election bid.
State legislator Mallory McMorrow, who had withdrawn from the Senate race weeks prior, also endorsed El-Sayed immediately following the NBC News projection on Tuesday night.
President Donald Trump responded to the outcome on social media, labeling the result “great news” for the Republican Party. He attacked the nominee, writing, “El-Sayed, a Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel, is the projected winner in his race with the Socialist.” Trump further criticized the accuracy of polling, noting that Stevens performed better than expected and suggesting that Democratic policies would only worsen.
As the campaign shifts toward November, El-Sayed aims to consolidate the Democratic base. He has vowed to challenge Rogers by framing the Republican candidate as a figure beholden to both Trump and corporate interests.
Tuesday’s result in Michigan – a swing state that voted for Trump in 2024 – will have major implications for the Democrats’ policies on conflicts in the Middle East.
“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.
“I am thrilled for the rest of the country to learn that Michigan is not going to take it,” Berry told Al Jazeera.
Let’s come together to build a movement that’s even bigger, that’s even stronger, that’s even more powerful, that reaches into the very depths of this state, that reminds us the best of who we are and who we can be.”
“As usual, the Polls were way off on this one.
Now, the Dumocrats crazy policies will only get worse!”
