Abdul el Sayed wins Michigan Democratic Senate primary

Abdul el Sayed won the Democratic nomination for Michigan's open Senate seat on Tuesday, capping a stunning rise in one of the year's most closely watched primaries and setting up a general election showdown with Republican Mike Rogers.

The Associated Press called the race for el Sayed at 9:54 a.m. Wednesday. With 99% of the expected vote counted, el Sayed led with 48.5% of the vote to Stevens's 47.5%.

El Sayed's victory marks one of the biggest triumphs for the Democratic Party's progressive wing this year and delivers another setback to the party establishment after a string of left-wing primary victories across the country. His win also puts Michigan Democrats' longtime electoral formula to the test after years of statewide success under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), exposing deep divisions over ideology, Israel, and how the party should compete in battleground states after President Donald Trump's 2024 victory.

Stevens positioned herself as a proud pro-Israel Democrat, while el Sayed characterized Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. Outside spending on the race reached tens of millions of dollars. Stevens, supported by Michigan's Democratic establishment and pro-Israel groups, had argued her moderate appeal made her the stronger general-election candidate. However, el Sayed's populist economic message resonated with primary voters.