Michigan Primary Senate election results 2026: In Abdul El-Sayed vs Haley Stevens, who is winning? Latest updates

Voters in five US states — Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia and Washington — cast their ballots in primary elections on Tuesday, with several closely watched House and Senate races expected to shape the battle for control of Congress in next year's midterm elections.

Several Democratic primaries featured contests between incumbent lawmakers and progressive challengers, drawing national attention.

Redistricting also played a key role in the races. In Missouri, Republicans redrew congressional boundaries in a move that Democrats said favoured the GOP. In Virginia, the primary was shifted from June to August as part of a Democratic-backed redistricting effort, though the changes were ultimately struck down by the courts.

Michigan primary senate results:

Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed held a narrow lead over U.S. Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic U.S. Senate primary on Tuesday, though the outcome remained too close to call.

With an estimated 42% of the vote counted, CNN projected El-Sayed ahead with 49.8% of the vote, compared with Stevens' 46.5%.

The closely watched contest has become a key test of the Democratic Party's future direction, pitting El-Sayed's progressive platform against Stevens, an establishment-backed moderate supported by party leaders and pro-Israel groups.

What will be the impact on 2028 elections?

The Michigan Senate primary is expected to draw close attention from potential Democratic presidential contenders eyeing the 2028 race, as the party searches for a message to reconnect with voters following its 2024 election defeat. A victory for Abdul El-Sayed could reignite debate within the party over the appeal of economic populism, anti-establishment politics and a tougher stance on Israel.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday found that self-identified liberals now account for 71% of Democratic voters, up from 55% in 2012. The survey also showed that large majorities consider universal healthcare, expanded abortion access and higher taxes on corporations and wealthy Americans to be essential Democratic policy positions.

The poll also highlighted growing skepticism within the party over US support for Israel, a key issue in the Michigan race. Only 16% of Democrats supported continued military and economic aid to Israel, while 57% opposed it.

What is happening in other states?

Alongside Michigan, voters in Virginia, Missouri, Kansas and Washington state also cast ballots in Democratic primaries for US House seats on Tuesday, including several races that could influence which party controls the House after the November elections. Four of the contests are considered highly competitive in the general election.

In Missouri, progressive Democrat Cori Bush failed in her attempt to unseat US Representative Wesley Bell in a rematch of their 2024 contest, according to US media projections.

The pro-Israel super PAC United Democracy Project, which spent more than $8 million to defeat Bush in 2024, reportedly spent more than $3 million this cycle to prevent her return to Congress. Bell is widely expected to retain the safely Democratic St. Louis-area seat in November.

In Virginia, Democrats nominated former US Representative Elaine Luria and Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor in two congressional districts expected to be closely contested in the general election.