Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticized Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive Democrat who narrowly won Michigan's Senate primary, labeling him a "Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel." Trump's comments came as Republicans view El-Sayed's victory as a potential opportunity to flip the state's Senate seat.
El-Sayed defeated Representative Haley Stevens by a margin of 48.5 percent to 47.5 percent, with 99 percent of ballots counted. The Associated Press confirmed El-Sayed's win on Wednesday morning, hours after NBC News had projected the outcome. Trump commented on Truth Social that polls had been inaccurate in predicting Stevens' performance, stating, "Now, the Democrats' crazy policies will only get worse."
Conservative strategists have expressed a desire for El-Sayed to be the Republican nominee Mike Rogers' opponent. Rogers, who ran unopposed after receiving an early endorsement from Trump, is now set to face El-Sayed. El-Sayed has challenged Rogers to five debates, asserting, "We took on a machine. The power of our many is greater than the power of their money."
Vice President JD Vance also commented on El-Sayed's win, expressing concern about a potential future administration led by him. El-Sayed's victory sets up a contest for a Senate seat left open by the retirement of two-term Democrat Gary Peters. Republicans have not won a Michigan Senate race since 1994.
Jessica Anderson, president of the Sentinel Action Fund, which backs Rogers, framed the general election as a choice between "a far-Left socialist" and "an America First leader." The Sentinel and its sister group Right Vote have pledged a combined $15 million toward the race.
The primary, which was anticipated to be a larger victory for El-Sayed, resulted in a close race that caused anxiety among Democrats. Polling had indicated Stevens would perform significantly worse than she did.
El-Sayed, a 41-year-old doctor, enters the general election trailing his Republican opponent in polling, according to Adam Jentleson, a Democratic strategist. Jentleson noted that El-Sayed faces the challenge of uniting a broad coalition in Michigan, a state President Biden won in 2020.
During the primary, El-Sayed secured endorsements from prominent progressive figures such as Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. However, he faces the task of winning over the nearly 47 percent of Michigan Democrats who voted against him.
The campaign saw significant spending from outside groups, with nearly $62 million invested to support Stevens, a ratio of nine-to-one compared to El-Sayed. A substantial portion of this funding, $32 million, came from AIPAC's super PAC, marking the largest single-race investment in the group's history and the most by any outside organization in a federal Democratic primary this cycle. In total, Democrats spent an estimated $98.2 million on internal primary contests.
Stevens had the backing of retiring Senator Gary Peters and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Despite earlier polls showing Stevens with a comfortable lead, El-Sayed eventually pulled ahead. Stevens garnered unexpected support in rural areas and heavily African American neighborhoods in Detroit, while El-Sayed performed strongly in Muslim-majority areas like Hamtramck and Dearborn.
In the final days of the primary, Stevens accused El-Sayed of blaming Jewish Americans for his challenges. El-Sayed has vowed to advocate for "Medicare for All" and to "stand up to greedy landlords and corporate profiteers."
The Michigan Senate seat is rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. El-Sayed's victory continues a trend of progressive candidates winning primaries, following similar successes in other races.
El-Sayed has indicated that a victory in November could provide him with leverage in the 2028 presidential primary. Michigan has been awarded one of six early-window slots for the 2028 Democratic nominating contest, scheduled for March 7, 2028, placing it before Super Tuesday.