Michigan Senate Primary Gives Democrats Stark Choice Between Progressive and Moderate Candidate

Democrats in Michigan entered this week with a sudden clarity about the ideological stakes of the party’s consequential primary race for Senate, where a candidate’s departure created a bitter one-on-one fight between an ardent progressive and a moderate backed by Washington leaders.The Sunday exit of Mallory McMorrow, a state senator who struggled to find a middle ground in the contest, left Dr.Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive former public health official, facing off against Representative Haley Stevens of Michigan, a four-term moderate.Perhaps no other Democratic primary in the country this year will have as clear a contrast between the direction voters could choose.Dr.

El-Sayed, who has endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, is a fierce critic of Israel who has called for “Medicare for all” and a raft of other progressive priorities.Ms.Stevens, a supporter of Israel whose political brand centers on her effectiveness as a legislator, is backed by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, and millions of dollars in super PAC spending, a large chunk of which is from pro-Israel groups.Dr.

El-Sayed has led in polls of the race, even as Ms.Stevens’s supporters hope her wide advantage in advertising, funded in part by groups tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, will help her overcome her rival.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

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