Michigan, Missouri, Washington primary elections: Key takeaways

Published 5 August 2026 · politics

Recent US primaries have revealed a rift within the Democratic Party between progressives and moderates over US support for Israel. Michigan’s Democratic race for a

Recent US primaries have revealed a rift within the Democratic Party between progressives and moderates over US support for Israel. Michigan’s Democratic race for a midterm election nomination emerged on Tuesday as the latest battleground between the party’s progressive and centrist candidates, commonly referred to by Democrats as “moderates”, over US support for Israel. This is an issue that has played out in primaries nationwide this year. However, unlike contests in many other liberal bastions, the race in the Midwestern swing state could prove crucial for Democrats’ fight for control of the Senate. Missouri, Kansas and Washington state also held primary votes on Tuesday. Here are some key takeaways from the latest primaries. Michigan: Democratic progressives face off with ‘establishment’ As of the early morning hours of Wednesday, centrist Democratic candidate Haley Stevens, seen as the “establishment” choice, and progressive favourite Abdul El-Sayed were still locked in a neck-and-neck race for Michigan’s Democratic US Senate nomination. With 91 percent of the votes counted, El-Sayed was holding a narrow lead with 48.9 percent of the vote while Stevens had 47.1 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press (AP). US Representative Mike Rogers is the Republican nominee. He ran for his nomination unopposed. The bitter campaign between the Democratic candidates has attracted national attention not just because the seat will help decide which party controls the Senate.

Michigan has also become the most notable proxy battle between the Democratic Party’s establishment and progressive wings. Michigan has a “purple hue”, meaning it is a swing state mixed with a fairly even balance of Democratic and Republican voters. It is therefore considered a more challenging political terrain for a progressive, meaning that if El-Sayed does win the nomination, some analysts argue it is more likely the Republicans will ultimately win the seat in the November election. El-Sayed was maintaining his lead as initial results rolled in on Tuesday night, though Stevens had made up ground as Wayne County, the state’s most populous and home to Detroit, reported more votes into the night. Wayne has historically released results later than other counties, and its voters have tended towards establishment candidates over progressives. That means Stevens could still see a boost as counting continues, although that does not guarantee victory. El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, campaigned on a ticket of “Medicare for All”, campaign finance reform and ending military aid to Israel. Stevens, a four-term congresswoman, focused on manufacturing and the economy. She emphasised her past victories in tough races, arguing she will be best positioned to beat Rogers in November. Stevens has received tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, including the largest donation ever from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which supports pro-Israel candidates.