Only a few thousand votes separate progressive Abdul El-Sayed and moderate Congresswoman Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, and the race is still too close to call — leaving the party facing a critical unity test with 90 days until the midterm elections.
Both candidates spoke to supporters and cautioned that vote counting might stretch throughout the day.
“We knew that this was going to be a close race, and that’s exactly what we’ve got,” Stevens said. “I am feeling fired up, and you should be too.”
El-Sayed also addressed his crowd, stressing the importance of coming together regardless of the outcome.
“Whatever happens tonight, we have a responsibility to ensure that we unite, unite to make sure that Mike Rogers never sees the inside of the U.S. Senate," El-Sayed said.
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The primary has set national spending records and the result is turning out to be far closer than recent polls suggested. It has also not delivered the overwhelming progressive mandate that progressive leaders across the country anticipated after pre-election polls showed El-Sayed with a significant lead.
El-Sayed has the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Stevens has major backing from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
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Whoever is eventually projected to win the race will take on Republican Mike Rogers — President Donald Trump's pick — in a contest expected to decide control of the Senate. Republicans are optimistic that scars from the primary will be too deep to heal in just a few weeks, presenting an opportunity for the GOP to flip the seat.
The biggest task next for Democrats will be finding a way to bring all sides together with 90 days remaining until Election Day.
