In a significant political development, progressive public health advocate Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in Michigan. The victory comes after a hard-fought primary campaign that saw more than $60 million in spending, with a substantial portion originating from pro-Israel organizations.
The Associated Press and other major news outlets projected the narrow victory for El-Sayed on Wednesday, more than 12 hours after polls closed on Tuesday. With nearly all ballots tallied, El-Sayed maintained a one-percent lead. The outcome represents a major setback for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which had heavily backed his opponent, US Congresswoman Haley Stevens, with over $30 million in support.
El-Sayed is now set to face former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in the November general election. This contest is viewed as a pivotal race that could influence which party secures control of the Senate for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term. Should El-Sayed, who is of Egyptian descent, win in November, he would become the first Muslim senator in American history.
The Michigan primary results carry significant implications for Democratic policy regarding Middle East conflicts. El-Sayed has characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and advocates for redirecting funds currently spent on foreign conflicts toward domestic priorities like 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 saturation of negative advertisements that avoided policy discussions and instead focused on personal attacks against an “Arab American Muslim man named Abdul.” Berry added that she is thrilled for the country to see that Michigan voters refused to be swayed by 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 benefited from significant AIPAC backing in 2022 when she defeated progressive Jewish legislator Andy Levin.
While initial polling suggested a comfortable lead for El-Sayed, Stevens performed better than expected, particularly in Detroit, Michigan’s largest city. The race remained too close to call for several hours as Stevens narrowed the early lead El-Sayed had established.
Following the race call, El-Sayed addressed his supporters on social media, stating, “Michigan… We won. I am so proud to be your Democratic nominee for US Senate. Let’s win in November.” Stevens conceded shortly thereafter, offering her endorsement and praising El-Sayed’s background as a doctor, community health official, and Rhodes Scholar.
The victory triggered a wave of support from prominent Democrats. State legislator Mallory McMorrow, who had previously dropped out of the Senate race, endorsed El-Sayed immediately following the projection. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Gary Peters, both of whom had supported Stevens in the primary, also pledged their support for El-Sayed against Rogers.
El-Sayed has emphasized the need to unify the Democratic base, urging his supporters to “begin to mend fences” and practice “magnanimity in victory.” He warned that the primary battle “pales in comparison to the cynicism” expected from Rogers and Trump in the general election, vowing to challenge the Republican candidate on his ties to corporate interests and the former president.
President Trump responded to the results on social media, calling the outcome “great news” for Republicans. He labeled El-Sayed a “Communist loser” and a “Socialist,” while criticizing the accuracy of the polls and suggesting that Democratic policies would only deteriorate further.
As the campaign shifts toward November, El-Sayed remains focused on his general election opponent. “Mike – and I know you’re listening, Mike – we are coming for you,” he declared, signaling his intent to maintain an aggressive campaign strategy moving forward.
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.
“I’m going to ask all of us as we think about where we go from here, always magnanimity in victory,” he said.
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.
As the night went on, Stevens kept closing in on a lead that El-Sayed had built in from early returns.
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!”