Divided Democrats face a moment of truth in Michigan Senate primary

Per Axios, Michigan's Democratic Senate primary is shaping up as a dramatic clash between the party's left and center-left wings. Abdul El-Sayed, a democratic socialist backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has surged to a substantial lead over establishment favorite Haley Stevens in recent polling — one survey this week showed him ahead by fifteen points. The stakes are enormous: if El-Sayed wins not just the primary but the general election in this crucial swing state, it would signal that democratic socialists are reshaping the party's center of gravity, not just winning in Democratic strongholds. Israel and Gaza have become the race's defining issue, with Stevens describing herself as a proud pro-Israel Democrat while El-Sayed has accused the country of committing genocide in Gaza. It's also an unprecedented moment for AIPAC, whose affiliated groups have poured roughly thirty million dollars into supporting Stevens — the most the organization has ever spent in a single race.

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