The former public health official overcame heavy establishment and pro-Israel backing for Rep. Haley Stevens, winning the Democratic nomination by a narrow 48.5% to 47.5% margin.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary Tuesday, overcoming support for his opponent from senior party figures and millions of dollars in spending tied to the pro-Israel lobby.
El-Sayed received 48.5% of the vote to Stevens’ 47.5%, according to results compiled by The Associated Press. The close outcome followed a campaign that exposed divisions within the Democratic Party over Israel, immigration enforcement, health care and the influence of establishment donors.
The former public health official entered the race with endorsements from independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other prominent members of the party’s left wing.
Stevens, who has represented Michigan in the House since 2019 after flipping a Republican-held seat, was supported by much of the Democratic establishment. Organizations associated with the pro-Israel movement also spent millions of dollars supporting her campaign.
The candidates offered sharply different positions on several major issues. Stevens favored reforming Immigration and Customs Enforcement instead of abolishing the agency, supported adding a public health insurance option rather than adopting Medicare for All and remained an outspoken supporter of Israel.
El-Sayed campaigned on Medicare for All, eliminating ICE, placing abortion protections into federal law and allowing so-called “gender-affirming care,” according to the policy platform published by his campaign.
Although his proposals and political alliances led opponents to characterize him as a socialist, El-Sayed rejected that description.
“I’m not a socialist. I’m just a capitalist who understands how capitalism works,” El-Sayed said. “I think government ought to be there to regulate monopolies and oligopolies so that everybody can actually participate in the economy without having to be forced to pay more or get paid less.”
Sanders cast El-Sayed’s candidacy as part of a broader national campaign by Democratic Socialists of America members, union supporters, younger voters and other left-wing activists to challenge party-backed candidates.
“We are taking on the establishment all over this country. All over the country, ordinary people, unionists, young people, people of color [are] getting involved in the political process and they’re saying wait a minute, maybe the Democratic Party should belong to us and not just wealthy campaign contributors. And then in the midst of this comes Dr. Abdul El-Sayed,” Sanders said in a campaign advertisement.
Stevens’ supporters included Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn and Delaware Sen. Chris Coons.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also worked privately to build support for Stevens and encouraged Democratic donors to contribute to her campaign, The New York Times reported. Schumer told Punchbowl News in June that Stevens had the “best chance of winning.”
The general election is expected to feature El-Sayed against former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, the presumptive GOP nominee.
A Michigan Education survey conducted July 28 showed Rogers leading El-Sayed by 10 percentage points in a hypothetical matchup, according to the poll results. The same survey showed a much closer contest between Rogers and Stevens, with Stevens holding a 46% to 45% advantage.
Spending in the Michigan Senate contest had reached approximately $80 million, placing it among the country’s most expensive congressional races, CBS News reported. About $60 million was spent in support of Stevens, with a substantial portion connected to pro-Israel interests.
Campaign finance records also showed that approximately 31% of donors who gave at least $200 to Stevens’ Senate campaign had donated to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee since the beginning of 2025, The Detroit News reported in May.
An AIPAC affiliate previously spent more than $5 million through campaign contributions and independent expenditures during Stevens’ 2022 House primary.
The candidates’ opposing positions on Israel became a central issue during a July 28 debate. El-Sayed criticized Stevens for accepting support from pro-Israel donors and groups, while Stevens defended her position, saying she favored a two-state solution and “long-term peace.”
El-Sayed accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza and opposed continued U.S. financial support for the country.
The dispute reflected a growing division among congressional Democrats. A total of 103 Democratic House members voted for an amendment introduced by Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie that would have reduced foreign aid to Israel by $3.3 billion.
Stevens also attracted criticism in mid-July for a campaign speech intended to rally supporters.
“I am gonna be telling the stories on our behalf. And you better believe I’m gonna be doing it with a little bit of joy, a little bit of enthusiasm, a little bit of energy and a little bit of stick it to ‘em. Because that’s the Michigan way,” Stevens said.
Although the final result was decided by approximately 1 percentage point, El-Sayed had held a much larger lead shortly before the election. An Emerson College Polling, WLNS and WOOD-TV survey released the previous Thursday showed him leading Stevens by 15 points.
El-Sayed’s victory followed other recent primary defeats for longtime Democratic incumbents and establishment-supported candidates.
In New York’s 13th Congressional District, Democratic Socialists of America candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated five-term Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat in June. In Colorado, socialist Melat Kiros defeated Rep. Diana DeGette, who had served in Congress for 29 years.
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