Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Democratic Senate primary
by Joe Fisher · UPIAug. 5 (UPI) -- Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan after Rep. Haley Stevens conceded to him Wednesday.
The final votes were being tallied on Wednesday and El-Sayed had a percentage point edge with 99% of ballots counted. The victory will send El-Sayed on to face Republican Mike Rogers in November's midterm.
Stevens congratulated El-Sayed in a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying she is proud to offer him her support.
"Donald Trump and Mike Rogers want us to come out of this primary tired and divided, so their billionaire backers can come in and let multimillionaire Mike Rogers walk away with this Senate seat," Stevens said. "They want to keep the Senate red, so Mike Rogers can keep rubber-stamping Donald Trump's harmful agenda ... I'm not going to let that happen."
El-Sayed, formerly a public health official, is running for a seat left vacant by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who is retiring. He served two terms in the U.S. Senate.
El-Sayed has been endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. His primary win marks another for progressive Democrats, a wing of the party that has found increasing success of late.
About $65 million in funding was raised outside of Michigan to support Stevens. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also endorsed Stevens.
The open Michigan Senate seat is one of the crucial appointments in battleground states heading into November. Democrats hope to flip four Republican seats to gain a majority in the Senate but they must also maintain their grip on the seats they currently hold.
Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate.
El-Sayed's campaign platform has called for policies including Medicare for All while voicing criticism of the Israeli government over its military operations in Gaza.
This week in Washington
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks during a press conference after weekly Senate caucus luncheons at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. With the August recess approaching, Senate Republicans are looking to confirm Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as Attorney General and pass a budget bill to prevent a shutdown before the midterms. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo