Kenneth Glad
Michigan’s Democratic nominee emerged from a narrow primary victory and now faces Republican Mike Rogers in November. The contest for the open seat could also help determine control of the Senate.
Abdul El-Sayed secured Michigan’s Democratic Senate nomination after defeating Rep. Haley Stevens by less than one percentage point, according to the Associated Press. The result gave the former public health official his first statewide primary victory following an unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2018.
El-Sayed prevailed despite more than $60 million in outside spending opposing his candidacy. Stevens had support from several prominent Democratic figures, while El-Sayed was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring. El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman who narrowly lost Michigan’s 2024 Senate election to Democrat Elissa Slotkin.
According to the Irish Star, Rogers has begun appealing to Democrats dissatisfied with the primary outcome, telling them in a campaign video: “You have a home with us.”
Battle lines form for November
El-Sayed celebrated his victory by telling supporters: “In the words of Muhammad Ali, we shook up the world,” Irish Star reported.
The outlet also cited Sanders describing the result as “the most extraordinary victory that I can think of in modern American politics.”
AP reported that Democrats moved quickly toward unity after the contentious primary, with Stevens pledging her support to El-Sayed.
President Donald Trump took a different approach. According to Irish Star, he has called El-Sayed a “communist,” a “man of hate” and “full of s—,” while also referring to him as a “lovely gentleman.”
During an interview by Sky News, El-Sayed was asked about Trump’s suggestion that Republicans should welcome his nomination.
“I’m a gift to the state of Michigan, God-willing, and I hope to win this election,” he replied.
The argument becomes personal
When Trump’s vulgar criticism was raised during the interview, El-Sayed responded: “At least I don’t let mine go in the middle of the Oval Office.”
Trump later continued the dispute on Truth Social, posting photographs of himself and first lady Melania Trump beside an image of El-Sayed and his wife, Sarah Jukaku, who was pictured wearing a hijab. The president captioned the post: “Two VERY DIFFERENT America’s [sic].”
El-Sayed answered again during a subsequent CNN appearance, saying: “Actually, Sarah and I like each other.” He then criticized the president’s marriage.
With the Democratic primary now over, El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are moving into the general-election phase of the Michigan Senate race. The campaign is likely to remain highly visible through November as both candidates compete for voters in a closely watched contest.
Sources: Associated Press; Irish Star, Sky News, CNN, Truth Social
