Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-08-05 · by Al Jazeera Staff
Story summary
The Democrats are locked in a heated primary battle in Michigan's Senate election, with Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, facing off against Haley Stevens, a more moderate candidate supported by establishment Democrats like Gretchen Whitmer. The winner will go on to face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election.
The Michigan Senate primary has become a high-stakes battle within the Democratic Party, with some seeing it as a test of whether progressive candidates can replicate their success in other parts of the country. El-Sayed's campaign has focused on issues like climate change and racial justice, while Stevens has emphasized her experience as a moderate Democrat.
The primary election is being held on Tuesday, with voters in Michigan and four other states - Kansas, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington - heading to the polls to choose their candidates for November's elections. The outcome of the Senate primary could have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress, with Democrats needing to flip four Senate seats to regain control.
Abdul El-Sayed has been gaining support from Arab American voters, who are increasingly centering Palestine in their electoral choices. El-Sayed's campaign has also received endorsements from groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Arab American Institute. However, he is facing opposition from pro-Israel groups like AIPAC, which has spent millions of dollars to defeat him.
The Michigan Senate primary has become a national story, with many seeing it as a test of whether progressive candidates can win in traditionally moderate districts. The outcome will have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress and the Democratic Party's future direction.
Written for “Michigan Democratic Primary Results” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 13 other(s) covering the same event.
El-Sayed, Stevens face off in Michigan Democratic Senate primary
asserted
Sayed → face → primary
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.
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race → emerge → Israel
This is an issue that has played out in primaries nationwide this year.
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that → play → primaries
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.
uncertain
race → prove → Senate
Missouri, Kansas and Washington state also held primary votes on Tuesday.
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Missouri → hold → Tuesday
Democratic progressives face off with ‘establishment’
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progressives → face → 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.
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Stevens → see → 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).
uncertain
Stevens → count → Press
He ran for his nomination unopposed.
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He → run → nomination
The bitter campaign between the Democratic candidates has attracted national attention not just because the seat will help decide which party controls the Senate.
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party → attract → Senate
Michigan has also become the most notable proxy battle between the Democratic Party’s establishment and progressive wings.
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Michigan → become → wings
Michigan has a “purple hue”, meaning it is a swing state mixed with a fairly even balance of Democratic and Republican voters.
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it → have → 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.
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Republicans → consider → 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.
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County → maintain → night
Wayne has historically released results later than other counties, and its voters have tended towards establishment candidates over progressives.
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voters → release → progressives
That means Stevens could still see a boost as counting continues, although that does not guarantee victory.
uncertain
that → mean → 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.
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Sayed → campaign → Israel
Stevens, a four-term congresswoman, focused on manufacturing and the economy.
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Stevens → focus → manufacturing
She emphasised her past victories in tough races, arguing she will be best positioned to beat Rogers in November.
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she → emphasise → 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.
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which → receive → candidates
Israel’s “favourability rating” among Democrats fell from 59 percent in 2018 to just 22 percent in May, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
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rating → fall → polling
Additionally, Republican US Representative John James, backed by US President Donald Trump, won the Republican gubernatorial nomination, defeating Perry Johnson.
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James → back → Johnson
He will face Democratic nominee Jocelyn Benson in the November general election.
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He → face → election
Progressive community organiser William Lawrence won the Democratic nomination for the 7th district of Michigan, defeating Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam.
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Lawrence → win → Brink
He will challenge incumbent Republican Tom Barrett in November.
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He → challenge → November
Missouri: Democratic progressives lose out
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progressives → lose → ?
Progressive Democrat Cori Bush, a leading critic of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, failed in her bid to unseat incumbent US Representative Wesley Bell in a rematch of 2024 during Tuesday’s primary.
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Bush → fail → primary
On the Republican side, Paul Berry won the nomination after running unopposed.
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Berry → win → nomination
A pro-Israel super PAC spent more than $8m to help unseat Bush in the last cycle and more than $3m this cycle to keep her out of Congress.
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PAC → spend → Congress
Bell is heavily favoured to win in November, as the St Louis-area district is safely Democratic.
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district → favour → November
Additionally, 80.3 percent of voters rejected Amendment 4, a ballot amendment that would have made it more difficult for citizens to amend the state constitution.
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citizens → reject → constitution
Kansas: Democratic Hamilton to face Republican Marshall in November
Adam Hamilton emerged from an 11-person Democratic field to win the nomination for the Senate seat race.
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Hamilton → face → race
He will face incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall in the fall.
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He → face → fall
In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Cindy Holscher won the primary with 48.6 percent of the vote, defeating Ethan Corson and Curt Skoog.
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Holscher → win → Corson
Ty Masterson won the gubernatorial primary for Republicans, getting 43.2 percent of the vote, defeating four other candidates.
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Masterson → win → candidates
Voters additionally rejected a ballot proposal from conservative activists that would have transitioned the state to electing Supreme Court justices instead of having them appointed by the governor.
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them → reject → governor
Washington: All-party primary
Washington state held an all‑party primary, which is a primary election in which all candidates from all parties are listed together on the same ballot and all voters can vote in the same race.
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voters → hold → race
In this, incumbent Democrat Suzan DelBene is leading so far with 54.5 percent of the vote.
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DelBene → lead → vote
Republican Mary Silva is trailing behind, with 27.2 percent of the vote.
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Silva → trail → vote
However, the vote count is still under way, with only 53 percent of all votes counted so far.
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percent → count → votes
…and 2 more, not listed.
