The Michigan Democratic primary for the US Senate has come to a close, with Abdul El-Sayed taking a massive lead in the early vote totals.
El-Sayed appears to be on track to defeat moderate Democrat Haley Stevens in the primary election, with a nearly 30% lead in the early vote totals.
El-Sayed will now face former Representative Mike Rogers, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary, in the November general election.
El-Sayed has been criticized for his ties to progressive groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), with which he has attended and spoken at multiple events.
El-Sayed has denied that he is a socialist, stating that he believes in capitalism and regulation, but has been described as a "longtime friend of Detroit DSA" and has been photographed with Socialist Representative Rashida Tlaib.
Just days before the election, El-Sayed was spotted at a pool party with communist influencer Hasan Piker and Socialist House candidates Melat Kiros and Chris Rabb.
Despite his progressive leanings, El-Sayed was backed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in the primary election.
El-Sayed has also been criticized for his response to a terrorist attack on a Jewish synagogue and daycare in Michigan, in which he seemed to justify the attack by saying "hurt people do hurt people."
El-Sayed's victory in the primary election is seen as a major upset, with many considering him to be a dangerous politician with radical views.
The outcome of the election is now set, with El-Sayed declared the winner and facing off against Representative Mike Rogers in the November general election.
The general election is expected to be a closely watched contest, with many seeing it as a must-win for Republicans to prevent a potentially disastrous outcome.
