El-Sayed Wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary by Narrow Margin

Michigan voters handed progressive physician Abdul El-Sayed the Democratic nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat, setting up a November contest against former Republican congressman Mike Rogers that will test whether an avowed left-wing candidate can carry a swing state. El-Sayed defeated U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens by roughly one percentage point after Stevens received heavy outside spending from groups including an AIPAC-linked super PAC. The result leaves Democrats needing to consolidate support among Black voters, Jewish voters, and moderates who backed Stevens while Rogers prepares attacks that link El-Sayed to streamer Hasan Piker and to policies such as Medicare for All and reduced police funding.

El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim major-party Senate nominee, built his primary coalition through repeated visits to more than 110 cities and joint appearances with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who had endorsed Stevens, issued a post-primary statement of support, as did Stevens herself and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. El-Sayed told supporters the race must become a referendum on Rogers and President Trump rather than on his own record.

Rogers, a former FBI agent and House Intelligence Committee chairman who lost to Sen. Elissa Slotkin by fewer than 20,000 votes in 2024, holds a slight edge in early general-election polling. Republican groups have already reserved at least $45 million in advertising. El-Sayed has said he will not be defined by his name or faith and has invited Stevens voters into a broader coalition focused on removing money from politics.