Moderate Democrats Rally to Block Abdul El-Sayed in Aug. 4 Michigan Primary as Sanders Backs Leftward Push
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Moderate Democrats Rally to Block Abdul El-Sayed in Aug. 4 Michigan Primary as Sanders Backs Leftward Push
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Summary
Michigan Democrats are coalescing behind Rep. Haley Stevens to stop progressive Abdul El-Sayed in the Aug. 4 Senate primary, fearing he could imperil a must-hold seat in November.
Gary Peters, Chuck Schumer and allied outside groups see Stevens as more electable in a state Donald Trump carried by just over 1 point, while Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaigned in Detroit for El-Sayed.
The clash has turned expensive and ideological: El-Sayed is running on Medicare for All, abolishing ICE and sharp criticism of Israel, while AIPAC-aligned United Democracy Project is spending heavily to boost Stevens and attack him.
Michigan is the first of several statewide tests after far-left primary wins in New York City and Colorado, with Wisconsin's Aug. 11 governor's primary and Minnesota's Senate primary set to gauge whether progressives can expand beyond deep-blue districts.
The stakes reach beyond one race because Democrats need to defend the open Michigan seat against Republican Mike Rogers and cut into the GOP's 53-47 Senate majority.