Beyond Abdul El-Sayed, other progressive wins in Michigan show inroads and staying power

In Michigan’s Democratic primary, Abdul El-Sayed’s win was one of several progressive upsets, showing that the Democratic party’s left wing are making inroads far beyond deep blue districts–and could prove to have staying power.

Among the more significant progressive wins were those of Donavan McKinney, who ousted establishment incumbent Shri Thanedar in Michigan’s 13th district; William Lawrence, a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, who defeated two establishment-backed Democrats in Michigan’s District 7; and Abbas Alawieh, a leader of the 2024 Uncommitted Movement and former congressional staffer, who also beat an establishment candidate in a State Senate District 2.

"Democratic voters are saying they want to vote for something–not just against something," James Zogby veteran pollster and president of the Arab American Institute, told The New Arab. "The problem is the establishment doesn’t have anything to offer."

Michigan is the latest state where progressives have won key races over establishment candidates, a significant step in nationwide trend of Democrats leaning into their leftwing base in the 2026 midterms.

Multiple polls have found that progressive positions poll high among voters, even those who don't necessarily identify as leftists. Among the more popular positions are Medicare for All (universal healthcare), taxing billionaires, getting big money out of politics, and ending unconditional aid to Israel.

In a sign of the times, some of the country's leading progressives have not shied away from voicing their support for Palestinian human rights, often highlighting the issue in their campaigns.

On his campaign website, in a section labeled Palestine, McKinney says that the US needs to end military aid to Israel and pass the Block the Bombs Act, resume funding for UNRWA for humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and end the genocide and release detainees–a platform that would have been a rarity in a US congressional race just two years ago, but one that has been relatively standard in progressive campaigns in 2026.

"If you look at the polling, the programmes progressives are offering are what people want," said Zogby.

Many establishment candidates, meanwhile, have rallied around the "affordability" slogan, often without elaborating on concrete solutions to the cost-of-living crisis.

"The arguments progressives are making are more persuasive than in other elections," David Frank, a professor of rhetoric and political communication at the University of Oregon, told TNA. "All politics are local. When politicians understand people’s needs, then they're able to talk to people who are like them."

In addition to several progressive upsets in key races, incumbent congresswoman Rashida Tlaib handily won her race in Michigan's District 12, beating two other contenders who did not have sufficient financial backing or popular support to pose a serious threat to the "squad" member who was elected in the 2018 blue wave. In previous elections, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) have invested considerable resources in an effort to defeat her.

"They've given up. It's now a losing cause," said Zogby. "They're not indiscriminate. They pick the ones they think they can win."

Despite major gains for progressives in the 2026 midterms, the establishment infrastructure remains strong with a high success rate of endorsements. AIPAC, for example, which has been losing support in the party, has nevertheless seen a 94 percent success rate in their endorsements of Democratic candidates this cycle, compared with an 86 percent success rate for the Congressional Progressive Caucus and 65 percent for progressive icon Bernie Sanders.

Though progressives remain the underdogs in relation to the national Democratic establishment, recent wins in high-profile races show that they are making historic gains.