Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary in major victory for Democrats' progressive wing

DETROIT (AP) - Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan's Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, defeating U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in a massive victory for the party's progressive wing in a battleground state.
The real test of El-Sayed's and progressives' strength will now come in a November matchup against Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination. The seat is pivotal to Democrats' chances of flipping the Senate and El-Sayed will face the challenge of uniting a divided Democratic base after a bruising primary.
The race remained tight throughout Tuesday night, with a winner not declared until early Wednesday. In his final remarks at a primary night party before the race was called, El-Sayed said "tomorrow we begin to mend fences."
El-Sayed's campaign said Stevens called to concede Wednesday.
"Whatever happens tonight," El-Sayed told a thinned but still energetic crowd, "we have a responsibility to ensure that we unite, unite to make sure that Mike Rogers never sees the inside of the U.S. Senate."
Stevens, a four-term congresswoman, focused on manufacturing and the economy.
Stevens benefited from tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, including the largest investment in a race ever from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which supports pro-Israel candidates.
Groups backing Stevens spent more than $50 million, led by more than $30 million from AIPAC and its affiliates.