Primaries takeaways: Progressives score big wins and turn to November

Democrats quickly coalesced around the progressive winners.

Tuesday's primaries in five states had surprising results for Democrats who are looking to take back Congress in the midterms.

Key wins in Michigan, including Dr. Abdul El-Sayed's victory in the Senate Democratic primary, gave progressives major wins in their fight for the direction of the party.

Although the Democrats quickly coalesced around the progressive challengers, Republicans and President Donald Trump ramped up their attacks, previewing their message to keep power in Congress in the fall.

Here are takeaways from Tuesday's primaries:

Progressives power through, moderates coalesce

El-Sayed announced his victory Wednesday morning after his opponent Rep. Haley Stevens conceded.

El-Sayed won by only 14,000 votes -- roughly one percentage point -- in a race that pitted the party's new blood against the old guard.

El-Sayed, who was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive power players, campaigned hard on policies such as Medicare for all, affordability and support for Gaza in a state with a significant Muslim and Palestinian population.

He repeatedly slammed Stevens for her votes to support U.S. aid to Israel.

Stevens, who was backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other party leaders, tried to win voters over with her experience in the House and push to help Magician's manufacturing community. In interviews, events and ads, Stevens portrayed El-Sayed as an unserious candidate

"Abdul is running for celebrity," Stevens said during a debate in July.

Despite El-Sayed's slim margin and bad blood from the campaign, Stevens, Schumer and other mainstream Democrats quickly put out statements congratulating El-Sayed and urged Democrats to back him in the general election against former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers.

"Democrats are united by a common purpose: putting a check on Donald Trump by defeating his Republican enablers and taking back the Senate. We look forward to working with Abdul and Democrats across Michigan to win this seat in November," Schumer said in a statement.

El-Sayed quickly buried the hatchet as well, complimenting Stevens and saying he would be working with her and other Democrats to win the seat.

"She loves democracy like I love democracy," he said of Stevens. "And whatever differences that we might have had in the primary, they pale in comparison to what unifies us."

An L for progressives

In Missouri, progressives were were hoping former Rep. Cori Bush could win her rematch with Rep. Wesley Bell, who unseated her two years ago.

Bell, who was supported by pro-Israel groups, was projected to win early in the night and won by around 22 percentage points.

Bush tried to capitalize on voter sentiment souring on Israel and the rise of other progressives, but that wasn't enough to sway Missouri voters who stuck with the incumbent.

Bell, on his end, notched the support of Democratic leaders such as Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and major groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus PAC.

US-Israel relationship reckoning

El-Sayed's win marked a major blow to American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which spent more than $32 million in ads against his campaign.

The group, which has become a target for many progressive candidates across the country, has been critical of El-Sayed's views on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The group's president, Bernie Kaminetsky, criticized El-Sayed in a letter sent to supporters on Wednesday and labeled him as "a fiercely anti-Israel candidate." Kaminetsky did not confirm if AIPAC or its affiliate super PAC plans to spend to support Rogers or against El-Sayed.

The spending comes as polls show support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government waning as the conflict with Gaza closes in on four years. Opinions of Israel have turned negative since March 2025, according to a Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday, which said 55% of adults said they are unfavorable of Israel now, up from 43% then.

The PAC's money did not appear to deter a majority of Michigan voters, a point that El-Sayed noted in his victory speech.

"What we showed is that the power of our money is greater than the power of their money," he said of the $70 million of outside money spent against him.

Trump, GOP turn up the volume for November

Michigan voters got their first look at the Rogers-El-Sayed matchup as the Republican candidate and President Donald Trump attacked the Democratic nominee over his progressive views and stance on Israel.

Trump posted on his social media platform that El-Sayed's victory was "great news for the Republican Party" and labeled him a "Communist loser," a phrase that he has thrown at several progressive Democrats over the last couple of years.

Rogers said in an X post that El-Sayed "would make our communities less safe and our state less affordable," through his policies.

GOP redistricting push effects in display

Although the GOP faces major headwinds in November, their controversial mid-decade redistricting push could yet limit their losses.

In Missouri, Republicans are focused on flipping Democratic Rep. Emanual Cleaver's 5th Congressional District, which the legislature redrew to be more Republican-friendly. Republican State Sen. Rick Brattin, who is backed by Trump, will face Cleaver in November.