Michigan's left flexes its primary muscle

Andrew Pantazi

Abdul El-Sayed stands onstage with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Shawn Fain, Rashida Tlaib and Donavan McKinney, raising joined hands before a crowd of supporters holding campaign signs in Detroit. — Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed greets supporters with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, UAW President Shawn Fain, Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney in Detroit. Photo: Sarah Rice/Getty Images

Michigan progressives woke up Wednesday after a banner night: Abdul El-Sayed leads the uncalled Democratic Senate primary, Will Lawrence won a battleground House nomination, and Donavan McKinney threatens to oust Rep. Shri Thanedar.

Of the three Democratic primaries, only Lawrence's victory has been called.

Why it matters: A sweep would signal the left's growing strength in a key swing state.

The state's Democratic Socialists of America chapters, the Working Families Party and the United Auto Workers all flexed their muscles Tuesday up and down the ballot.

State of play: El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, clung to a narrow lead over four-term Rep. Haley Stevens — 48.5%–47.5% with 96% of the vote counted. The winner will face Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan's open Senate seat, a must-win for Democrats hoping to gain Senate control.

Lawrence, a Sunrise Movement co-founder, upset Bridget Brink, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and Matt Maasdam, a former Navy SEAL, winning the 7th district nomination by 15 points. Lawrence will try to flip the swing seat held by GOP Rep. Tom Barrett.
State Rep. McKinney, a Democratic Socialists of America member backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), is up this morning 51.6%–48.4% against Thanedar in a solidly blue seat. A McKinney victory would make Thanedar the latest House Democrat toppled by the left.

The latest: Both El-Sayed and Stevens told supporters the vote count could continue well into Wednesday.

While NBC called the race for El-Sayed, AP and CNN held off, even as the number of remaining ballots has dwindled.

The big picture: The bitter and expensive campaign became the most notable proxy battle between the Democratic Party's establishment and progressive wings.

El-Sayed has said he's not a democratic socialist, but many DSA members have backed him.

Zoom in: The left saw even more victories downballot, with a DSA member ousting an incumbent state representative, a cofounder of the Uncommitted Movement nominated in a state senate race and a Working Families Party-endorsed candidate set to win an open state house seat.

A socialist was also named the Democratic nominee in Ann Arbor's mayoral race and is unopposed in November.

Add Axios on Google

Michigan's left flexes its primary muscle

What to read next