He’s Either the Democrats’ Future—or Their 2026 Demise. I Went to See Why.
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat running for Michigan's open Senate seat, has surged in the polls despite controversy over his refusal to condemn past remarks by leftist streamer Hasan Piker, with whom he campaigned. His rise has turned him into a national symbol in debates over the Democratic Party's direction on Israel, Gaza, and progressive politics. While establishment Democrats and Republicans express concern, El-Sayed's campaign reflects a broader struggle within the party over electability and ideological boundaries.
- ▪Abdul El-Sayed is running for Michigan’s open Senate seat in a three-way Democratic primary.
- ▪He gained national attention after campaigning with Hasan Piker and refusing to condemn Piker’s past controversial statements.
- ▪Recent polls show El-Sayed tied for first with 24 percent support, up 8 points since January.
- ▪Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly prefers either of El-Sayed’s opponents over him.
- ▪The race has become a proxy for larger Democratic Party conflicts over Israel, progressive politics, and electability.
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Politics The Democrat Everyone Suddenly Can’t Stop Talking About Depending who you ask, he’s the party’s future—or its demise. I went to see why. By Aymann Ismail Follow Aymann Signed Up For Email Alerts Error Signing Up For Email Alerts Close Enter your email to receive alerts for this author. Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. You're already subscribed to the aa_Aymann_Ismail newsletter. You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again, or manage all your newsletter subscriptions here . <div class="slate-notification--error"> Please enable javascript to sign up for newsletters. </div> Email address: Sign Up By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms.
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