Polls closed in Virginia as five states — Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, Washington and Virginia — held primary elections that will shape the November midterms. The most closely watched contest is Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, where a progressive insurgent backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders faces an establishment-backed congresswoman in what both sides describe as a fight for the party's future.
Boosted by victories this spring in mostly blue congressional districts across the country, progressives are now testing their strength in a Great Lakes battleground state, where a win could reshape the Democratic Party and endanger must-hold seats in November.
The race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters pits former Wayne County Health Department director Abdul El-Sayed against Rep. Haley Stevens. Democrats view it as a must-hold seat — one of roughly a dozen Senate contests that will determine whether Republicans keep their slim majority.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive leaders describe Michigan as 'ground zero in the battle for the future of the Democratic Party,' in the words of Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. El-Sayed, who would be the nation's first Muslim senator if elected, has made Medicare-for-all a centerpiece of his campaign and called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He is also a vocal critic of Israel, characterizing its actions in Gaza as 'genocide' against Palestinians.
El-Sayed campaigned with Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez two weeks ago and has vowed not to accept PAC donations. He argued that Stevens' reliance on outside money raises questions about her electability: 'If you need $70 million to come in here and help get you elected, then the question has to be, are you actually electable on your own terms.'
What the Right Is Saying
Center-left Democrats warn that a progressive nominee could jeopardize a winnable seat. Matt Bennett of Third Way called it 'the first time the left is competing for a swing seat' and said 'the significance is it could really put this seat in jeopardy.' Stevens, who flipped a GOP-held district in 2018, argued her record makes her the stronger general-election candidate: 'I am the best Democrat to go forward. I am the only person in this race who has won tough primaries multiple times. You know, running with the Michigan grit, resilience and determination.'
Republicans say either nominee gives them an opening. Trump-backed former Rep. Mike Rogers, the likely GOP nominee, said he is confident of beating both candidates: 'It doesn't matter to us. We've looked at both candidates. We feel confident we're going to beat either one of those candidates that come out of that race.' He called El-Sayed 'very radical' and 'way too extreme for Michigan,' adding that the candidate has 'his own special sauce of crazy.'
What the Numbers Show
More than $80 million has been spent on the primary showdown, making it the most expensive Democratic Senate nomination race in history. Much of the money came from outside groups supporting Stevens and opposing El-Sayed; the largest spender is United Democracy Project, a political action committee aligned with AIPAC. Rogers lost Michigan's 2024 Senate election by a razor-thin margin.
The Bottom Line
The winner will face Rogers in November in a race that could help decide control of the Senate. Results from these primaries also test President Donald Trump's influence over Republican contests through his endorsements. Watch whether progressive victories extend to this battleground state and how both parties respond.