Progressive champion Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has weighed in on a high-profile Democratic Senate primary, backing epidemiologist Abdul El-Sayed in a closely watched battle in Michigan. El-Sayed, who would make history as the nation's first Muslim senator if elected, has long been backed by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders.
El-Sayed is facing off against two more moderate candidates, including Rep. Haley Stevens, who is tacitly supported by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer and the party establishment view Stevens as more electable than El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his past comments. Democrats see this race as crucial as they aim to win back the Senate majority from Republicans in this year's midterm elections.
Ocasio-Cortez disagreed with the party establishment, saying, "Despite our ideological differences and whatever disagreements there are in the party, every single one of us sees this moment as existential." She believes El-Sayed gives the party its best chance at winning and is energizing far-left progressive activists who are heavily supporting him.
The endorsement by Ocasio-Cortez could be problematic for establishment leaders, who worry El-Sayed as the party's nominee would jeopardize the Democrat-controlled Senate seat by pushing the party too far to the left in a state that President Donald Trump carried two years ago.
El-Sayed's campaign has made support for "Medicare-for-all" a major component, and he's vowed not to accept PAC donations. Stevens, on the other hand, has been backed by millions in super PAC spending, including big bucks from Israel-aligned groups. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow is the third major candidate in the Democratic Senate primary.
Polling indicates that El-Sayed is the frontrunner in the race. This isn't the first time Ocasio-Cortez has backed El-Sayed, as she also endorsed him for his insurgent but unsuccessful 2018 gubernatorial bid in Michigan. The eventual Democratic nominee will face off against former Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election.
