Recent polling in Michigan’s open U.S. Senate race shows Democrat Abdul El-Sayed leading establishment-backed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens as the Democratic primary approaches. The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will face Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers in November in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.
Primary Showdown
An average of four recent polls shows El-Sayed, a former gubernatorial candidate, leading Stevens 36.5% to 32.8%. This is according to polls compiled by 270toWin. With the primary in just 20 days, Democrats will choose a nominee to succeed retiring Democrat U.S. Sen. Gary Peters.
In recent weeks, the political rhetoric in the race has intensified. Since Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign in early July, El-Sayed and Stevens have traded sharp attacks as they compete for the support of Michigan Democrats. El-Sayed has cast himself as the candidate taking on “AIPAC and the establishment.” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying organization, has spent millions backing Stevens’ campaign.
Stevens, meanwhile, has criticized El-Sayed for delaying the release of his financial disclosure forms and has dismissed several of his policy proposals as “aspirational.” Although El-Sayed has rejected the label of democratic socialist, he has aligned himself with the Democratic Party’s more progressive wing. He has been endorsed by several members of the progressive congressional group known as “the Squad,” including U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar.
While Stevens and El-Sayed share some progressive positions, including support for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, El-Sayed has embraced a broader slate of left-wing policies, including Medicare for all and a wealth tax on billionaires. Despite trailing in some recent polling, Stevens received an endorsement on Monday from Peters, showing her continued support from the Democrat Party’s establishment.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
