Michigan Democratic Senate primary results: Abdul El-Sayed projected to win after tight race against Haley Stevens
Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed is projected to win Michigan's Democratic primary for the US Senate, narrowly defeating moderate Representative Haley Stevens in one of the
Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed is projected to win Michigan's Democratic primary for the US Senate, narrowly defeating moderate Representative Haley Stevens in one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterm election cycle. With more than 95% of ballots counted early Wednesday, El-Sayed held a slim lead of 48.6% to 47.3%. The Associated Press has not officially called the race. Multiple outlets described the contest as too close to call after El-Sayed was projected as the winner. The victory sets up a high-stakes November showdown against Republican Mike Rogers, who secured his party's nomination after running virtually unopposed with the backing of President Donald Trump. El-Sayed calls for Democratic unity Addressing supporters after midnight, El-Sayed stopped short of declaring victory but expressed confidence in the outcome, saying the lengthy vote count reflected strong turnout for the progressive movement. "I wish I could tell you that I was declaring victory right about now," he said. Despite a hard-fought primary, El-Sayed urged Democrats to unite ahead of the general election. "However much we might disagree with our Democratic opponent, there is so much more that unites us than divides us," he said.
"Tomorrow we begin to mend fences." He also turned his attention to Republican rival Mike Rogers, declaring: "I know you're listening, Mike. Mike, we are coming for you." Framing the election as a broader political movement, El-Sayed told supporters, "What we can do is build the next 250." Stevens says race remained too close to call Representative Haley Stevens acknowledged the race's razor-thin margin and told supporters the final outcome could take time. "We knew that this was going to be a close race, and that's exactly what we've got -- a close race," she said, noting that votes were still being counted in Detroit, Flint, Muskegon County and Macomb County. Looking ahead to November, Stevens urged Democrats to stay energized, reviving her campaign slogan. "We got to wake up and be ready to go because if we are going to win this thing, which we are, we are going to have to get ready and show Mike Rogers what a little stick it to 'em looks like," she said. She accused Rogers of wanting to "keep the Senate red" and alleged Republicans wanted him to return to Washington to "sell us out to the highest bidder." A defining ideological battle The Michigan Senate primary exposed deep divisions within the Democratic Party between its progressive and establishment wings.
The BriefWire