El-Sayed Leads Narrowly Over Stevens in Michigan Democratic Senate Primary
Incumbent Dr. Abdul El-Sayed holds a slim advantage over Rep. Haley Stevens in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary as vote counting continues, with the winner set to face Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate, has a narrow lead over centrist Rep. Haley Stevens in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary, according to early Wednesday vote tallies. Both candidates addressed supporters after midnight, emphasizing the closeness of the race. > "We knew this was going to be a close race, and that’s exactly what we’ve got: a close race," Stevens said, adding she felt "good" and "fired up." El-Sayed responded that a victory would mean "we’ll have taken $70 million on the chin and kept fighting back" and pledged to "begin to mend fences" after the primary. The primary winner will meet former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee, in the November general election for the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Gary Peters.
Other Democratic primaries across the Midwest produced mixed outcomes. In Missouri, Rep. Wesley Bell defeated former Rep. Cori Bush, while in Michigan, organizer William Lawrence won a House primary, positioning him against Rep. Tom Barrett in the fall. Lawrence, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, campaigned on opposition to data centers, higher taxes on billionaires, universal health care, and ending arms sales to Israel.
The Michigan race also includes a contest in Detroit’s 7th district between Rep. Shri Thanedar and State Rep. Donavan McKinney, which remained unresolved early Wednesday. Across the region, gubernatorial and congressional primaries in Kansas, Virginia, and Washington are shaping the upcoming midterm elections.