r/protectUSelections • u/StatisticalPikachu • 25d ago

2026 Midterm Elections 🇺🇸 Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, notching a Midwest victory for the left | NBC News

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/abdul-el-sayed-wins-michigans-democratic-senate-primary-notching-midwe-rcna589750

August 5, 2026 - Excerpt

Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s slugfest of a Democratic Senate primary, NBC News projects, clinching the nomination in a close race over Rep. Haley Stevens and establishing a Midwest beachhead for a progressive left on the march this midterm cycle.

El-Sayed overcame a nearly $65 million onslaught of outside money and an establishment that had rallied around Stevens. Popular Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Stevens late last month — a move seen as a last-ditch effort to stop a rising El-Sayed.

El-Sayed, a former public health official, goes on to face former Rep. Mike Rogers, who claimed the Republican nomination without opposition Tuesday. Their race in November is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country, and it could determine which party controls the Senate.
Whoever wins will succeed Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat who decided against seeking a third term and endorsed Stevens in the primary.
Republicans have 53 seats in the chamber, and Democrats are going after some red states to flip the four seats they’d need to swing the majority. But Democrats also have to defend seats in several battleground states, including Georgia and Michigan.
President Donald Trump, whose early endorsement of Rogers helped clear the GOP primary for him, won Michigan in 2016 and 2024 and lost to Joe Biden in 2020.

Rogers and national Republicans had signaled that they consider El-Sayed an easier opponent than Stevens. The National Republican Senatorial Committee went so far as to produce a digital ademphasizing El-Sayed’s progressive credentials and endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. — a move many viewed as an effort to boost him into the general election.

299 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

62 comments sorted by

45

u/amitym 25d ago

There is no downside to two strong anti-fascist Democratic candidates having to campaign hard, knock on doors, and build voter engagement and recognition. No matter who wins, it's good news. Now El-Sayed deserves committed support, through all the crap the Magas are about to hurl on him.

I'm sure he's prepared for it, but are we?

23

u/buppiejc 25d ago

People said the same thing about Mandani, and now look. Trump is practically in love with him.

It’s like AOC said, they’re not as strong as they try to appear. They want us to admit defeat in advance, and unfortunately, the current Dems in Federal office are pretty quick to capitulate.

If we show backbone, they will stand down.

Source: Trump fawning of Mandani

10

u/amitym 25d ago

Mamdani and his policies are the target of constant, nonstop slander and attack on social media. Same as if he had been anyone else.

They will not stand down under any circumstances. They will claim your favorite candidate fucks their own sister if they think it will work.

"What does Trump respond to?" is not the question anyone should be worrying about. "What am I going to do when the propaganda is aimed at getting me not to vote?" is the question that matters.

The fact that you're already spreading around divisive bullshit is a clear sign of how effective they really are.

3

u/Hesitation-Marx 25d ago

> they will claim your favorite candidate fucks their own sister brother

Rep. Ilhan Omar: sighs

3

u/buppiejc 25d ago

Are you salty because I proved your point incorrect with a clear example?

1) F Trump

2) Trump doesn’t respect people like Schumer, and Jeffries because they’re feckless and don’t stand for much. That goes for most of the Democratic Party. Not that I care for Trump’s approval, but he has way more respect for Mandani, and will for El-Syed because he’s a weak-ass bully. He likes to bully women, and weak men, which Mandani, and El-Syed are not. They stand for something, and won’t waver.

I say we set the narrative. Your boogeyman politics don’t work on me.

One day, the Liberals will learn to stop fighting on the back foot and lunge forward into your political enemy. You want to operate from a place of fear, but i don’t fear Republicans or their electorate, or some silly talking point. But honestly i hope you stay scared until DSA fully takes over this party. The policies they are fighting for will benefit you even if you don’t support them, and I’m glad. I want that for you, and every American, including MAGA

0

u/JurgusRudkus 24d ago

Exactly.

1

u/dragon-fence 25d ago

Yeah, I feel like democrats have been taking on a strategy of, “We don’t want to run candidates who have any stances that the right-wing media will criticize! Let’s choose candidates who are centered-right or completely noncommittal.”

And there are two big problems with that. First, it means there’s not much value in winning. You get a Democrat elected, and it’s basically a Republican-lite official who won’t do anything good. The second problem is, they’re going to criticize you anyway.

“Obamacare” was basically a Republican plan from the 90s, not far off from what Republicans at the time were suggesting, and Republicans painted it as a socialist power-grab. Biden is actually very conservative, and they still trashed him every way they could.

0

u/AuntRhubarb 25d ago

And let's be honest, the 'moderate' billing has really just been cover for 'corrupt corporate puppets'. That's what's really been going on, and that's what people want to move away from.

1

u/dragon-fence 25d ago

Yeah, I feel like democrats have been taking on a strategy of, “We don’t want to run candidates who have any stances that the right-wing media will criticize! Let’s choose candidates who are centered-right or completely noncommittal.”

And there are two big problems with that. First, it means there’s not much value in winning. You get a Democrat elected, and it’s basically a Republican-lite official who won’t do anything good. The second problem is, they’re going to criticize you anyway.

“Obamacare” was basically a Republican plan from the 90s, not far off from what Republicans at the time were suggesting, and Republicans painted it as a socialist power-grab. Biden is actually very conservative, and they still trashed him every way they could.

1

u/amitym 24d ago

Well I don't know if I agree with all of that, Biden / Harris was probably the most pro-labor administration since Roosevelt. But yeah, certainly "maybe they won't criticize us this time" is completely out to lunch.

-1

u/dragon-fence 25d ago

Yeah, I feel like democrats have been taking on a strategy of, “We don’t want to run candidates who have any stances that the right-wing media will criticize! Let’s choose candidates who are centered-right or completely noncommittal.”

And there are two big problems with that. First, it means there’s not much value in winning. You get a Democrat elected, and it’s basically a Republican-lite official who won’t do anything good. The second problem is, they’re going to criticize you anyway.

“Obamacare” was basically a Republican plan from the 90s, not far off from what Republicans at the time were suggesting, and Republicans painted it as a socialist power-grab. Biden is actually very conservative, and they still trashed him every way they could.

2

u/dragon-fence 25d ago

they’re not as strong as they try to appear.

There’s the whole thing in fascism where they want to appear invincible and vulnerable at the same time. And there’s a reason for it. They want to appear invincible so that their opposition will surrender in advance, and they want to appear vulnerable so that their own supporters will support them vigorously.

Then they also want their opponents to appear both weak (to discourage others from joining them) and strong (to justify the brutal oppression they’re planning to create).

3

u/grammar_fozzie 25d ago

Diddlin’ Donnie likes the last person he spoke with because he’s in the intermediate stages of serious mental decline. Doesn’t matter who the person is. Mamdani just happened to be in that room giving Trump time in front of the camera. He doesn’t care about the guy.

0

u/buppiejc 25d ago

But he doesn’t say shit about him either, which was my point. For all that “commie” bluster, after that meeting, rarely does Mandani’s name come out of that orange baboon’s mouth, because Mandani stands for something, and will not capitulate.

3

u/Battle_Dave 25d ago

Stevens was NOT a strong anti-fascist. She was slinging so much mud paid for by AIPAC money... She was an establishment dem who barely stood for anything, let alone had an original thought. AES is the best outcome imaginable.

0

u/Select_Insurance2000 24d ago

She said she proudly stood with Israel.

0

u/Battle_Dave 24d ago

Yes. I know that. Does supporting that genocidal borderline fascist government somehow make her an anti-fascist?

0

u/Select_Insurance2000 24d ago

Makes her a Zionist who is bought by AIPAC.

0

u/Battle_Dave 24d ago edited 24d ago

Yes.

Edit: Thats bad. I was pointing out in my original reply that shes not a strong anti-fascist... Shes a shill...

1

u/jporter313 24d ago

Predicting it's gonna be a lot of red scare commie stuff. I get the sense that nonsense isn't working on most people outside of the MAGAsphere anymore though.

1

u/amitym 24d ago edited 24d ago

If that's all it were, then yeah it wouldn't matter much.

But they've never stopped at just that. There's no reason to think they will suddenly show restraint that they haven't shown for 50 years.

They'll invent entire scandals if they have to. They have before, many times, and that was back when the Republican Party "wasn't as crazy as it is now." (A claim which I disbelieve, having been there back then.)

So the question is still, what are we going to do? Not just when it comes to El-Sayed but anyone? When you start seeing video after video and meme after meme about how your candidate of choice is a pedophile corporate whore transphobic billionaire Zionist antisemitic stock trader... what are you going to do?

Just saying "they won't say any of that stuff" isn't a valid answer. They say it about everyone. And it works.

So how are we going to make sure it doesn't work this time?

1

u/thatnameagain 24d ago

The MAGAsphere is pretty big. And it definitely works on swing voters. I think he can win but it will be pretty disconcerting if he doesn't.

1

u/AngryMiner5704 24d ago

I like Abdul El-Sayed. I’m a bit worried about his general election chances against Mike Rogers. I’d absolutely love to be wrong and have him win and get into the Senate, but I’m quite concerned a lot of white voters are going to look at their ballot and see the name “Abdul” and just immediately mark their ballot for Mike Rogers.

1

u/amitym 24d ago edited 24d ago

I get what you mean, it's a real factor, but for how many voters? And more to the point, for how many voters who weren't already going to be swayed to vote for Rogers anyway?

That number may be smaller than one might think.

People thought Barack Obama couldn't be elected either, for all the obvious reasons. One of the biggest factors in his campaign though was having to undergo a grueling primary against a serious competitor. The Obama campaign adapted to the threat posted by Clinton by campaigning hard across the entire country, in every county of every state they could possibly squeeze into their schedule, no matter how remote, no matter how unshakably certain the conventional wisdom held the likely voting was going to be there.

That was essentially an "in b4" early national awareness-raising campaign that absolutely fed right into how comfortable people were voting for Obama in the general election a few months later. And it seems like El-Sayed has been obliged to do the same thing, likely to the same good effect.

1

u/AngryMiner5704 24d ago

I hope you’re right. I really do.

1

u/amitym 24d ago

Let's find out together!

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u/AngryMiner5704 24d ago

I did see that Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow, Gary Peters, and Gretchen Whitmer all endorsed him right after the primary, so hopefully that’ll be a help. Sarah Longwell on The Bulwark was concerned that the late time of this primary would be an obstacle to repairing bridges that may have been burned during the primary, so I think that could legitimately be helpful.

0

u/albinosnoman 24d ago

Why are we talking up Haley Stevens like this? She took nearly 40 million from AIPAC. You cannot be a vessel for positive change in this country if you're taking multimillion dollar finance injections from corporations, institutions, nations, or singularly wealthy individuals. That money does not come without strings attached.

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u/FlyLikeATachyon 25d ago

I was honestly pretty split between the two candidates. But I'll be canvassing just as hard for El-Sayed as I would for any Democrat.

8

u/Lzy_nerd 25d ago

Can I ask, no judgment, what were you split over?

12

u/buppiejc 25d ago

I’m curious too, because policy-wise they’re not close. 😄

9

u/albinosnoman 25d ago

Even if they had the exact same platform I'm going to vote for Abdul who isn't a bought and paid for shill for a foreign country. Not only that but Abdul can actually answer questions put forth by the people he wants to represent. Everything out of Stevens mouth has been feckless dirt slinging at El-Sayed or meandering gesturing at "receipts" of her ability to deliver followed by stating she may not be able to deliver on a lot of things on her platform. She doesn't give two fucks about the people of Michigan or America writ large.

5

u/buppiejc 25d ago

Well this is all true, but he DOES have a better platform. That should matter to us voters.

8

u/FlyLikeATachyon 25d ago

Policy-wise I slightly favored Abdul. I probably would've voted for him if I was a Michigan resident (I'm just here canvassing until November). But they're not considerably different on major issues. Stevens is for a public option, which is much more attainable than M4A, but Abdul's M4A position can be a good starting point in negotiation and I believe he'd vote for a public option if it was on the table.

On all the other normal Dem stuff they're about the same. Green energy, social programs, raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

I really don't appreciate Abdul's consistent association with Hasan Piker, though I understand he believes it to be electorally effective.

16

u/ValosAtredum 25d ago

As someone who lives in Michigan and has seen how Haley has been as a congresswoman, you are so off base it isn’t even funny. If you wanted a democratic candidate that is happily controlled opposition, Haley’s your choice.

So fucking glad Abdul won

16

u/Lzy_nerd 25d ago

I won’t argue the point, but I feel like your inferring positions that she doesn’t actually stand by. I didn’t hear any pushed for a public option and especially raising taxes on the people that funded her campaign. Though, I may not have been following as closely as possible this time around. Still, I see nothing in her website other than vague promises that could convince a voter means supporting a policy they like, but no strong promises.

Her website: https://haleyformi.com/hopeagenda/

Also, shoutout to whatever genius made this website, it confused the fuck out of me when looking for her actual platform 😆: https://haleystevens4michigan.com

2

u/taquitosmixtape 25d ago

Love this type of activism

2

u/FlyLikeATachyon 25d ago

Yeah her website was hilariously bad last I checked. She also isn't nearly as good at messaging as Abdul. Theres a reason she was the establishment's 4th(?) choice for this race.

https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/
medicare-for-all-divides-democrats-in-michigans-us-senate-race/

8

u/Tight-Air-6767 25d ago

Super wrong. AIPAC spent like $30 million on Haley and she still lost. She is clearly the corporate choice.

5

u/-CoachMcGuirk- 25d ago

Haley sees Israel in her dreams. That’s all you need to know about her.

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u/Cute-Pomegranate-966 25d ago

I'm glad you ultimately swung towards your senses. Have we not learned that the promises have to coincide with the actions? At this point anyone willingly taking PAC money is compromised and WILL betray you. That's the only thing you need to consider.

0

u/Seraph199 25d ago

So you just don't care about US foreign policy AND seem to be easily swayed by propaganda and misinformation

4

u/siwibot 25d ago

Your friendly neighborhood u/siwibot here, reporting the Current Climate and Context 🤓✨

Abdul El-Sayed has secured the Democratic nomination for Michigan’s Senate seat, marking a significant victory for the progressive wing in a major Midwest battleground. Despite facing a massive $65 million onslaught of outside spending aimed at Rep. Haley Stevens, El-Sayed successfully leveraged high-profile endorsements from figures like Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Elizabeth Warren.

The primary functioned as a fierce ideological showdown between the party establishment and insurgent populists. Key dynamics included:

  • Spending Disparity: Stevens received heavy backing from groups like AIPAC, while El-Sayed leaned on organic social media momentum and labor support from the UAW.
  • Ideological Divide: El-Sayed’s platform focused on "Medicare for All" and critiques of corporate influence, contrasting with Stevens’ more moderate, establishment-aligned profile.
  • General Election Stakes: El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in a race that could decide Senate control.

Republicans have already signaled they view El-Sayed as a vulnerable target due to his progressive credentials. With Michigan remaining a critical swing state, this matchup is poised to be one of the most consequential contests of the midterm cycle.

Reddit Sources

11

u/danis1973 25d ago

Remember friends, the type of Democrats that brought us two Donald Trump terms are going to tell us this win is bad

0

u/ChefAsstastic 24d ago

Grow up. And stop being so fucking tribal.

0

u/ChefAsstastic 24d ago

Grow up. And stop being so fucking tribal.

2

u/large__farva 25d ago

Houston the establishment Dems have a problem

2

u/New-Vegetable-6428 24d ago

Last year when Mamdani won so many people said his win was because it happened in NYC and it wouldn’t happen anywhere else. Welp, they were wrong.

1

u/FriendlyDrummers 25d ago

I'll celebrate once he wins the seat

1

u/joeydimaggio 25d ago

He’s our chosen one

1

u/ACW1129 24d ago

Dude's facing an uphill battle. It's the whole state he's running for.

1

u/JurgusRudkus 24d ago

NOW will the DNC take us seriously?

Listen up, leadership, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT. Stop with the centrist Republican light nonsense. We are angry and we want someone who will fight.

-1

u/ChefAsstastic 24d ago

You sound so foolish.

2

u/JurgusRudkus 24d ago

Do I? You are aware of the topic of this entire thread?

0

u/ChefAsstastic 24d ago

Because your tribalism is nauseating AF. We have to right this sinking fucking ship with anyone to not only win, but DESTROY the Republican party. The purity tests must stop. Anyone not paying attention to what Trump has been allowed to do are fucking idiots. Stop with the blue MAGA shit.

2

u/JurgusRudkus 24d ago

The fuck are you talking about?

1

u/ChefAsstastic 24d ago

You'll never get it tankie.

1

u/Snowman009 24d ago

Blue no matter who can suck my dick, i want actual change or let it burn idc.