Michigan, Aug. 5 (ANI): Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed held a narrow lead over moderate U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s closely watched Democratic Senate primary early Wednesday (local time), with about 95% of the estimated vote counted, CNN reported.
The race remained too close to call, with much of the outstanding vote concentrated in Wayne County, including thousands of mail ballots in Detroit. According to CNN, the mail ballots counted so far in Detroit have favored Stevens, though she would need to significantly widen her margin in the remaining vote to overtake El-Sayed.
Both candidates addressed supporters after midnight and acknowledged that the race could remain unresolved into Wednesday.
“I wish I could tell you that I was declaring victory right about now,” El-Sayed said, adding that the time required to count the votes reflected strong turnout for the progressive movement.
Holding a slim statewide lead, El-Sayed also called for Democratic unity ahead of the November election against Republican Mike Rogers.
“However much we might disagree with our Democratic opponent, there is so much more that unites us than divides us,” he said, adding, “Tomorrow we begin to mend fences.”
Turning to the general election, El-Sayed addressed Rogers directly, saying, “I know you’re listening, Mike. Mike, we are coming for you.”
He also framed the election as an opportunity for the progressive movement to shape the country’s future, saying, “What we can do is build the next 250.”
Stevens, meanwhile, told supporters that the close race could take time to resolve.
“We knew that this was going to be a close race, and that’s exactly what we’ve got — a close race,” she said, adding that votes were still being counted in Detroit as well as parts of Flint, Muskegon County, and Macomb County.
Stevens also urged supporters to prepare for the November election, referring to a viral campaign moment in which she vowed to “stick it to ’em.”
“We’ve got to wake up and be ready to go because if we are going to win this thing, which we are, we are going to have to get ready and show Mike Rogers what a little stick it to ’em looks like,” Stevens said.
She also accused Rogers of seeking to “keep the Senate red,” saying Republicans wanted him to return to Washington “and sell us out to the highest bidder and make himself even wealthier.”
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Rogers, who CNN reported is expected to secure the Republican nomination after running virtually unopposed following an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
The Michigan Senate race is considered critical to Democrats’ efforts to regain control of the U.S. Senate in the November midterm elections.
The high-profile primary also produced record Democratic turnout in Michigan.
According to CNN, more than 1.2 million ballots had been counted in the Democratic Senate race shortly after 1 a.m. ET Wednesday, surpassing the previous primary record of 1.18 million votes set in August 2020.
Once all ballots are counted, turnout could approach or exceed the nearly 1.6 million votes cast in Michigan’s 2020 presidential primary.
CNN noted that strong primary turnout does not necessarily predict Democratic performance in November but said Michigan’s figures are among several indicators of heightened Democratic enthusiasm this election cycle, particularly in competitive Senate races.
CNN also reported that Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson won the Democratic nomination for governor and will face Republican Rep. John James in November. James was endorsed by Trump.
Former Rep. Mike Rogers won the Republican Senate nomination in Michigan, while Trump-endorsed U.S. Army veteran Mike Bouchard won the Republican primary in the state’s 10th Congressional District.
In Missouri, Rep. Wesley Bell defeated progressive former Rep. Cori Bush in the Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District, reprising their 2024 contest.
In Kansas, Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson, who was endorsed by Trump, and Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher won their respective gubernatorial primaries and will face each other in November.
In Washington state, Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez advanced to the general election in the 3rd Congressional District, where she will face Republican state Sen. John Braun. (ANI)
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