Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic primary for the US Senate in Michigan on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, narrowly defeating moderate incumbent House Representative Haley Stevens by 48.5% to 47.5%. The closely watched contest was seen as a proxy battle over the future ideological direction of the Democratic Party.

El-Sayed, endorsed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, will face Republican incumbent Senator Mike Rogers in the November midterm elections. This Senate seat is considered vital for Democrats hoping to regain control of the US Senate.

Stevens, backed by the Democratic establishment and a significant fundraising effort from the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, conceded the race and pledged her full support to El-Sayed in the effort to defeat Rogers.

After his victory, El-Sayed emphasized party unity, stating, "Democrats have to come together to make sure that we never let Mike Rogers see the inside of the US Senate."

The Associated Press called the race shortly after Stevens' concession. Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump reacted by calling El-Sayed "a Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel."

Sources