Senate Democrats are rallying around Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in the race to beat Republican Mike Rogers as the party scrambles to defend its seat in an effort to win back the Senate majority.El-Sayed narrowly defeated moderate Rep.Haley Stevens after a bruising primary that exposed the party’s progressive-moderate divide, leaving Democrats with the task of unifying behind him ahead of one of the nation’s most competitive Senate races.Sen.
Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a progressive who endorsed El-Sayed, told Fox News Digital Friday that he believes El-Sayed will beat Rogers in November.ROGERS OPENS DOOR TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AFTER EL-SAYED’S PRIMARY VICTORY: ‘THERE IS STILL HOPE’Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Senate primary candidate Abdul El-Sayed, D-Mich., and Sen.
Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., greet the crowd after El-Sayed spoke at The People v.The Powerful rally at the Detroit Opera House on July 18, 2026, in Detroit.
(Sarah Rice/Getty Images)Several Democratic senators approached by Fox News Digital expressed confidence in El-Sayed, even after prominent Democrats chose to back Stevens during the primary over questions of whether El-Sayed could win in November."I am very confident we’re going to win in Michigan," Sen.Patty Murray, D-Wash., said.But the same senators weren’t as quick to defend or back some of his more radical policies — like calling for defunding the police, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Medicare for all and his strong opposition to Israel."You can ask him," Murray said after Fox News Digital followed up by asking for her views on his more extreme policies.Sen.
Tina Smith, D-Minn., also said she thinks El-Sayed will beat Rogers, but when Fox News Digital asked about her views on his policies, she walked away saying she was "looking for the ladies room."Sen.Mark Warner, D-Va., said "time will tell" when asked if he could beat Rogers in the general election.
He was the only lawmaker to tell...