El-Sayed holds narrow lead over Stevens in Michigan Senate primary

Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed held a narrow lead over centrist Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic US Senate primary as of early Wednesday morning. With 91 percent of votes counted, El-Sayed had 48.9 percent to Stevens' 47.1 percent, according to the Associated Press. Former US Representative Mike Rogers won the Republican nomination unopposed and will face the Democratic winner in November.

Wayne County, the state's most populous county and home to Detroit, reported results later than other counties and has historically favored establishment candidates, giving Stevens room to gain ground as counting continued. El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, campaigned on Medicare for All, campaign finance reform and ending military aid to Israel. Stevens, a four-term congresswoman, focused her campaign on manufacturing and the economy and received tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, including a large donation from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

The seat is considered pivotal to which party controls the Senate, and analysts have noted that Michigan's evenly split electorate makes it more difficult terrain for a progressive nominee than many other Democratic strongholds.

In the governor's race, Republican US Representative John James, backed by President Donald Trump, won his party's nomination over Perry Johnson and will face Democratic nominee Jocelyn Benson in November. In Michigan's 7th congressional district, progressive organizer William Lawrence won the Democratic nomination over Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam and will challenge Republican incumbent Tom Barrett.

Read the full story at aljazeera.com.