Abdul El-Sayed projected to win Michigan Democratic Senate primary

Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, defeating Representative Haley Stevens in a closely watched contest that highlighted divisions within the party. CBS News projects El-Sayed's victory.

El-Sayed, 41, ran on a progressive platform, securing endorsements from figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. His campaign represented a distinct choice between the party's diverging factions. Stevens, 43, who has represented Michigan in the House since 2019, adopted a more moderate approach and received backing from outgoing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

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It's always funny to me that people want to say that this state votes for moderates when it voted for Donald Trump twice.

The race opened up after Democratic Sen. Gary Peters announced his retirement. El-Sayed's win sets him up to challenge former Rep. Mike Rogers in November. Rogers, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, narrowly lost to Sen. Elissa Slotkin in the 2024 race for Michigan's other Senate seat.

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It may just be that the better explanation is not that the state wants moderates, it's that it's so sick and tired of the establishment bought off by corporations on both sides of the political aisle, that it was willing to hold its nose and vote for Donald Trump twice.

The Michigan seat is considered vulnerable for Democrats in a state that has recently swung between parties. National Democrats had supported Stevens, viewing her as the more electable candidate due to El-Sayed's left-leaning views, which they argued were out of step with the battleground state. El-Sayed, however, countered this by pointing to the state's past votes for Donald Trump, suggesting that voters are tired of an establishment influenced by corporations rather than seeking moderates. He expressed confidence that voters might prefer a "doctor who rebuilds health departments" over the establishment.

El-Sayed's victory follows a trend of wins by insurgent Democrats in recent primaries, reflecting a push for change within the party by progressives and democratic socialists.

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Now, what happens if the alternative to the bought-off establishment happens to be instead of a narcissistic, megalomaniacal billionaire, a doctor who rebuilds health departments to eliminate medical debt and put glasses on kids' faces? I'm willing to test that proposition.