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The Conversation
The Conversation
Michael Traugott, Research Professor at the Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan

Michigan progressive Abdul El-Sayed won a combative Democratic nomination for US Senate – he’ll face new attacks this fall

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks at a general election kickoff rally for Michigan Democrats at Renaissance High School in Detroit on Aug. 7, 2026. AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Abdul El-Sayed won a hard fight in Michigan’s Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate against Rep. Haley Stevens. He eked out a win by 15,000 votes, or about 1% of the almost 1.5 million votes cast during the election on Aug. 4, 2026.

El-Sayed had a consistent populist message during the primary campaign. He told The New York Times, “I can walk into almost any room, and I can say: ‘Money out of?’ and everybody’s like: ‘Politics.’ ‘Money in your?’ ‘Pocket.’ ‘Medicare for?’ ‘All.’ People know what we’re about.”

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