Key facts
- Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
- El-Sayed defeated U.S. Representative Haley Stevens in the primary.
- Donald Trump labeled Abdul El-Sayed a 'Communist loser.'
- The pro-Israel lobbying group Aipac plans to back the Republican against El-Sayed.
- Incumbent U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar lost his Democratic primary in Michigan's 13th Congressional District.
- Donavan McKinney defeated Shri Thanedar in the Michigan 13th Congressional District primary.
- William Lawrence won the Democratic primary in Michigan's seventh congressional district.
- Wesley Bell defeated incumbent Congresswoman Cori Bush in the Missouri Democratic primary.
- Joanna Whaley won the Democratic primary for Michigan's state legislature.
- Thomas Smith won the Republican primary for Michigan's 8th Congressional District.
- Amir Hassan was the Trump-endorsed candidate in Michigan's 8th Congressional District primary.
Abdul El-Sayed has secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, defeating U.S. Representative Haley Stevens. El-Sayed's victory is considered a significant win for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and establishes a general election contest against Republican Mike Rogers. Leading Democrats are reportedly uniting behind El-Sayed, viewing his candidacy as crucial for Democratic hopes of retaking the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections.
Donald Trump has publicly attacked El-Sayed, labeling him a 'Communist loser' as Republicans consider how to utilize progressive wins in their messaging. Meanwhile, the pro-Israel lobbying group Aipac plans to back the Republican candidate against El-Sayed. In other Michigan primaries, incumbent U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar lost his Democratic primary in the 13th Congressional District to challenger Donavan McKinney. McKinney's campaign focused on affordability and received support from progressive groups, while Thanedar was backed by a cryptocurrency-affiliated PAC, Fairshake, which spent over $2 million to support him. Despite this setback, Fairshake-backed candidates achieved victories in five other primaries across Michigan and Washington.
Progressive candidates experienced mixed results in Michigan's primaries. William Lawrence, a climate organizer and co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, won the Democratic primary in Michigan's seventh congressional district, defeating Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam. He will face incumbent Republican Tom Barrett. In Missouri, Wesley Bell secured victory in the Democratic primary, defeating incumbent Congresswoman Cori Bush. Bell, who received backing from pro-Israel groups, unseated Bush, a prominent critic of the war in Gaza and U.S. aid to Israel. Francesca Hong is leading in Wisconsin's Democratic primary for a congressional seat, with her grassroots campaign and policy platform potentially offering a blueprint for general election success. Joanna Whaley, a transgender woman and former megachurch pastor, won the Democratic primary for Michigan's state legislature, becoming the first transgender candidate to secure a major party nomination in the state, defeating former state representative Frank Liberati. Thomas Smith, who had suspended his campaign, won the Republican primary for Michigan's 8th Congressional District, defeating Donald Trump's endorsed candidate, Amir Hassan.
Progressive candidates faced challenges beyond major urban areas, with some experiencing narrow losses or being in tight races, indicating a complex landscape for the progressive movement.