Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive public health advocate, narrowly won Michigan’s Democratic nomination for the United States Senate, overcoming more than $60 million in campaign spending, much of it from pro-Israel groups.
Major news organizations projected his victory on Wednesday, more than 12 hours after polls closed, with nearly all votes counted and El-Sayed holding a lead of about one percentage point.
The result marked a significant defeat for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which supported Representative Haley Stevens and led an effort that spent more than $30 million to defeat El-Sayed.
Stevens, a staunch supporter of Israel, outperformed polling expectations and steadily narrowed El-Sayed’s advantage as ballots were counted.
She endorsed El-Sayed shortly after the race was called, joining Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Gary Peters and former primary candidate Mallory McMorrow in supporting him for the general election.
El-Sayed campaigned on Medicare for all, ending unconditional military aid to Israel and abolishing the federal immigration agency ICE.
He has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and argued that money directed toward conflicts benefiting Israel should instead support healthcare, housing and infrastructure in American communities.
If elected in November, the Egyptian American candidate would become the first Muslim senator in United States history.
El-Sayed will face former Republican Representative Mike Rogers in a competitive November contest that could help determine control of the Senate.
President Donald Trump responded by calling El-Sayed a “Communist loser,” although El-Sayed does not identify as a communist.
Republicans also targeted William Lawrence after the progressive environmental organizer won the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.
The victories intensified a Republican effort to portray Democrats as moving toward socialism, but advisers to competitive House campaigns remain divided over the strategy.
Five of 11 campaigns interviewed by Reuters were leaning into that message, while six considered it secondary or questioned its appeal to swing voters.
Some advisers said high gas prices and living costs would probably carry greater weight, particularly as Trump’s support has declined amid the war with Iran.
Republican strategist Jason Roe said Representative Tom Barrett’s campaign against Lawrence would emphasize Barrett’s record and policy agenda instead of ideological labels.
With Republicans defending narrow congressional majorities, campaigns must balance national attacks with the economic concerns shaping closely contested races.