Time Magazine is reporting that Abdul El-Sayed, a populist and former public health official, narrowly won the Michigan Senate primary on Tuesday, defeating a centrist rival favored by Washington Democrats. It said this outcome is seen as a significant setback for the Democratic Establishment's hopes of regaining control of the Senate during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s presidency. El-Sayed's victory, though tighter than some polls predicted, positions him to potentially become the first Muslim senator if he wins in November against former Rep. Mike Rogers. Time said El-Sayed campaigned on a platform that criticized the wealthy, corporations and the political system, resonating with broad public frustration, as indicated by Gallup polling showing only 23% of Americans satisfied with the current state of affairs.
The magazine identified Haley Stevens, the centrist rival, as a loser despite her advantages, including a House seat and donor access. It said her political instincts as an operative did not translate to convincing a statewide electorate, and her defeat cuts short her time in public office. Populists, generally, were deemed winners, with El-Sayed embodying a progressive and populist brand akin to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Sen. Bernie Sanders.
AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, was also listed as a loser. Time reported that the pro-Israel group spent a record $30 million to support Stevens, an outlay that El-Sayed used to characterize his opponent as a mouthpiece for deep-pocketed supporters. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was a winner, having conducted a last-minute robocall effort to more than 13,000 Muslim Michigan households, which likely impacted El-Sayed's narrow victory. Establishment Democrats were losers, as their preferred candidate, Stevens, failed to win, though Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand quickly issued a statement of support for El-Sayed. Republicans, however, were acting like winners, preferring to run against El-Sayed due to his past comments, particularly on Israel, which they plan to use to sway Jewish voters. Governor Gretchen Whitmer was also a loser, as her late endorsement of Stevens surprised many and her principled stand for pragmatism may be questioned as Democrats look toward the 2028 presidential primary.