{"id":6510,"date":"2026-08-05T04:30:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T04:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6510"},"modified":"2026-08-05T04:30:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T04:30:07","slug":"el-sayed-holds-narrow-lead-in-michigan-senate-primary-but-race-too-close-to-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6510","title":{"rendered":"El-Sayed holds narrow lead in Michigan Senate primary but race too close to call"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"f3ee440e-0b9f-48d9-955e-c2e89ee1ad11\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A man in a black T-shirt stands in front of microphones as people raise their hands to ask questions\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/6188bf8776a469f2683cdbb4f8abef6368c04e43\/722_0_4544_3636\/master\/4544.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.0818661971831\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Abdul El-Sayed speaks with reporters in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday.<\/span> Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson\/AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"f3ee440e-0b9f-48d9-955e-c2e89ee1ad11\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Abdul El-Sayed speaks with reporters in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday.<\/span> Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson\/AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">El-Sayed holds narrow lead in Michigan Senate primary but race too close to call<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Progressive ex-public health official in tight battle against Haley Stevens in state\u2019s Democratic primary<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The marquee race for the Democratic nomination for Senate in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/michigan\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Michigan<\/a> remained too close to call on Tuesday night, with Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive former public health official, holding a narrow lead over Congresswoman Haley Stevens.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The battleground state is <a href=\"https:\/\/theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/02\/michigan-primary-democrats\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">crucial<\/a> to the party\u2019s hopes of winning back control of the Senate in November\u2019s midterm elections. The winner of Tuesday\u2019s Democratic primary will face the Republican nominee, former representative Mike Rogers, in November, to succeed the retiring Democratic senator Gary Peters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">El-Sayed, 41, built a grassroots campaign statewide on a message of universal healthcare and getting money out of politics. Stevens, 43, cast herself as a pragmatic problem-solver, and saw her campaign boosted by tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/12\/israel-gaza-war-democrats-midterms\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">including from<\/a> groups <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/02\/aipac-aief-congress-israel-travel\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">affiliated with<\/a> the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), the pro-Israel lobbying organization.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"40e672dc-f477-4ddf-ac14-6fb7ca6400ac\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-1oq85qr\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1rx5ky9\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-uyoh2p\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/04\/marie-gluesenkamp-perez-washington-primary-election\" class=\"dcr-f35c0u\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-vvxpdt\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6z6e7\">\n<div class=\"dcr-zh9rih\">Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez survives Washington\u2019s crowded primary<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-oj13vq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-ef9nua\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Rogers, a former Michigan congressman who was also the Republican nominee for Senate in 2024 when he lost to Elissa Slotkin, ran unopposed in the Republican primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat who dropped out of Michigan\u2019s Democratic primary race in July, said it was vital for the party to come together after a bruising campaign to help the ticket win in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI voted for great <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/democrats\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Democrats<\/a> up and down the ballot, and I made a commitment that whoever wins the Senate race tonight, I will be endorsing as soon as that race is called,\u201d she told CNN. \u201cI will be headed to their election night party to show we all come together after whatever happens tonight, so that we can be a team as we head in November.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">With ballots still being counted, the results in Michigan \u2013 and in four other states holding elections, including Kansas Missouri, Virgina and Washington state \u2013 were coming into focus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic secretary of state, will face John James, a Donald Trump-endorsed congressman, in the state\u2019s open governor\u2019s race after Gretchen Whitmer faced term limits. James has denied the results of the 2020 election where Joe Biden won; <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PollTracker2024\/status\/2081832303743939039\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">most recently<\/a>, alongside Trump at a rally, James claimed Trump had won Michigan \u201cthree times\u201d.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"5eb4540e-f3ae-4c56-bce7-d61063def278\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div id=\"img-2\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Attendees wait for election results during a primary election night event for Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/f95252a9d5277567baccb31073833c4f2671559a\/0_0_5723_3815\/master\/5723.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"296.64074785951425\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><a href=\"#img-2\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"5eb4540e-f3ae-4c56-bce7-d61063def278\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Attendees wait for election results during a primary election night event for Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit. <\/span> Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson\/AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In Michigan\u2019s seventh congressional district, progressive organizer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/bernie-sanders-backs-climate-activist-michigan-race\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">William Lawrence<\/a> beat out two more moderate candidates, former US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam, a former US Navy Seal. Lawrence secured an endorsement from Bernie Sanders, the progressive Vermont senator.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A challenge to the incumbent representative Shri Thanedar in Michigan\u2019s 13th district by Detroit state representative Donavan McKinney remained too close to call.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In Missouri and Washington state the Democratic establishment struck back, blunting a string of progressive victories.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In Missouri\u2019s first congressional district, the Democratic congressman Wesley Bell <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/04\/wesley-bell-missouri-democratic-primary-congress\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">defeated<\/a> the progressive former representative Cori Bush in a rematch for the St Louis-based seat. Bush had sought to make the contest a referendum on pro-Israel spending and the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWhen we think about all of the division that we hear, I think it is important that we focus on what this place can be,\u201d Bell said after his race was called.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Meanwhile, in Washington\u2019s third congressional district, blue dog representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/04\/washington-state-primary-election\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">fended off<\/a> a progressive challenger in her battleground district, prevailing in a crowded all-party primary. She will face Republican John Braun in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Missouri voters also rejected an amendment that would have required citizens\u2019 initiatives to pass in all congressional districts rather than by a simple statewide majority.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In Kansas, state senator Cindy Holscher won the Democratic nomination in the gubernatorial race, beating two other politicians to advance to the general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">And in Virginia, Shannon Taylor won in the first congressional district and Elaine Luria won in the second congressional district, in wins for moderate Democrats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-midterm-elections-2026\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US midterm elections 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/michigan\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Michigan<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/democrats\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-senate\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US Senate<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/republicans\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Republicans<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=El-Sayed%20holds%20narrow%20lead%20in%20Michigan%20Senate%20primary%20but%20race%20too%20close%20to%20call&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/05\/abdul-el-sayed-haley-stevens-michigan-primary-election?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Faug%2F05%2Fabdul-el-sayed-haley-stevens-michigan-primary-election&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/aug\/05\/abdul-el-sayed-haley-stevens-michigan-primary-election\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1kq7f60\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Abdul El-Sayed speaks with reporters in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday. Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson\/AP View image in fullscreen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":6512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6510"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6513,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6510\/revisions\/6513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}