Abdul El-Sayed seeks Democratic unity after divisive Michigan Senate primary

Abdul El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination for Michigan's Senate race on Wednesday, immediately calling for party unity after a divisive primary. In his victory speech, El-Sayed sharply criticized the influence of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, which had heavily backed his rival, Haley Stevens.

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Whatever differences that we might have had in the primary, they pale in comparison to what unifies us, a recognition that so long as we want to keep our democracy, that democracy better be working for people, and that all of us have to come together to make sure that we never let Mike Rogers see the inside of the US Senate.

Despite his criticism, El-Sayed extended an olive branch to Stevens, urging her to join him in the general election campaign against Republican nominee Mike Rogers. He acknowledged their primary differences but stressed their shared goal of strengthening democracy. Stevens, who narrowly lost the primary despite significant pro-Israel funding, quickly endorsed El-Sayed.

The primary race was one of the most expensive in Senate history, with over $60 million spent. El-Sayed's win, by less than 1 percentage point, defied pollster expectations and underscored the challenges Democrats face in bridging divides between their progressive and moderate wings, particularly concerning Israel policy.

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I spoke with Abdul a few moments ago to offer him my full support as we work to defeat Mike Rogers this November.

El-Sayed also addressed concerns about his past reactions to incidents affecting the Jewish community, pledging to ensure the safety of Michigan's Jews. His campaign now faces the task of consolidating support from Stevens's moderate, working-class, and Jewish voters, many of whom were unsettled by his primary campaign rhetoric.

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You took on the power of AIPAC. You were willing to speak truth to a level of power that sometimes is unbeatable.