Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, NBC News projects, clinching the nomination in a tight contest against Rep. Haley Stevens. This victory establishes a foothold for the progressive left in the Midwest during the 2026 midterm cycle.
El-Sayed, a former public health official, overcame nearly $65 million in outside spending and an establishment-backed campaign that rallied around Stevens. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Stevens late last month in an effort to halt El-Sayed's momentum.
El-Sayed criticized Stevens for accepting corporate PAC money and benefiting from over $30 million in TV advertising funded by allies, including a group affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). At a debate in Detroit, he remarked, “If you need a $60 million crutch, you probably can’t be elected on your own terms.”
El-Sayed will face former Rep. Mike Rogers, who secured the Republican nomination without opposition. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, and Democrats aim to flip at least four seats, including some in red states, to gain a majority.
On a leaked call, El-Sayed suggested that his Michigan victory could influence the 2028 elections by encouraging primary challenges against incumbent senators.
Other primary results projected by NBC News include Cindy Holscher winning the Democratic primary for Kansas governor, William Lawrence winning a Michigan House Democratic primary, and Wesley Bell winning a Missouri Democratic primary rematch.
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