LANSING, Michigan — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Abdul El-Sayed on Wednesday, quickly backing the progressive Democratic Senate nominee after supporting his more moderate primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens.
Whitmer congratulated El-Sayed and other Democratic nominees while urging the party to unite for November. Stevens also conceded and offered El-Sayed her support after losing by fewer than 15,000 votes in a primary shaped by ideological divisions and record outside spending.
El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director, overcame more than $60 million in opposition spending. His campaign emphasized Medicare for All, campaign-finance reform, economic populism and ending unconditional U.S. military assistance to Israel. He received strong support from younger voters, progressives and Michigan’s Arab American communities.
The nominee will face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who ran unopposed. Rogers immediately labeled El-Sayed an extremist and invoked his Muslim faith while attacking his political movement—rhetoric likely to intensify an already divisive battleground campaign.
Michigan’s open seat is considered essential to Democratic hopes of regaining Senate control. El-Sayed must now consolidate Stevens supporters while expanding beyond the progressive coalition that carried him through the primary.
Whitmer described the campaign’s intensity as healthy but said Democrats must now “come together, get to work and win in November.” The endorsement reflects the rapid party consolidation behind El-Sayed despite establishment reservations about his candidacy.
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