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El-Sayed edges Stevens
Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official, narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary, setting up a November matchup against Republican Mike Rogers.
“El-Sayed led Stevens by 14,893 votes — just under 1 percentage point”
The Associated Press said El-Sayed led Stevens by 14,893 votes—just under 1 percentage point—out of more than 1.5 million ballots counted, after the race was not called until early Wednesday.
NBC News projected the Michigan Senate primary winner as Stevens conceded to El-Sayed, with Rogers running unopposed for his party’s nomination.
The Detroit News reported El-Sayed had about 49% to Stevens’ 47%, and it said a third candidate, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak, was pulling in about 4% of the vote.
El-Sayed, 41, said in his victory speech Wednesday, “In the words of Muhammad Ali, we shook up the world,” standing before The Spirit of Detroit in downtown Detroit.
Unity and attacks
After the primary, Democratic leadership moved to unite behind El-Sayed, with Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand saying in a joint statement, “We look forward to working with Abdul and Democrats across Michigan to win this seat in November.”
The BBC reported that El-Sayed would face Mike Rogers in November’s midterm elections and quoted El-Sayed saying, “In the words of Mohammad Ali, 'We shook up the world,'”
Rogers attacked El-Sayed as an “extremist” in a Wednesday statement, and The Detroit News said Rogers described El-Sayed as “an extremist bent on raising taxes and reducing imprisonment.”
The Washington Post described the race as a nationally watched Senate primary that the Associated Press projected, while CNN reported El-Sayed sought a unifying message after the divisive campaign.
CNN also reported that President Donald Trump said El-Sayed’s projected victory is “Great news for the Republican Party,” and it said Rogers released a statement on X slamming El-Sayed as an “extremist.”
What’s at stake in November
The Guardian framed Michigan as key to Democrats’ hopes of retaking control of the chamber in November’s midterm elections, noting Republicans control with 53 lawmakers to their 47.
“Republicans control with 53 lawmakers to their 47”
The BBC said the November midterm elections will determine the balance of power in Washington for the last two years of President Donald Trump’s time in office, with the Senate seat currently held by a retiring Democrat.
Al Jazeera reported that the Michigan result “represents an enormous blow to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC),” citing AIPAC’s backing of Haley Stevens with more than $30m.
Al Jazeera also said El-Sayed will now look to unite the Democratic base after a bitter primary where Israel and AIPAC’s spending took centre stage, and it quoted El-Sayed calling for supporters to “begin to mend fences.”
The Detroit News said El-Sayed declared victory around 7 a.m. Wednesday with the post “Let’s win in November,” and it reported that he will face Rogers in the November general election.
