Michigan Primaries: Anti-Israel Candidate Leads by Narrow Margin, Vote Count Continues

In the Michigan Democratic primaries, anti-Israel candidate Abdul El-Sayed leads with 49.8% over pro-Israel candidate Haley Stevens with 46.3%, after 71% of votes counted. El-Sayed, backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, demands an end to military aid to Israel and accuses it of genocide. In Missouri, Wesley Bell defeated Cori Bush, and in Ann Arbor, Youssef Rabi beat the incumbent mayor.

The Michigan Democratic primaries kicked off today (Wednesday). As of now, anti-Israel candidate Abdul El-Sayed leads with 49.8% over pro-Israel candidate Haley Stevens with 46.3%, after 71% of votes counted. El-Sayed, a progressive backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, demands an end to unconditional US military aid to Israel and accuses it of committing genocide. He seeks to link the Israeli issue to the cost of living in the US, redirecting taxpayer money to healthcare, education, and infrastructure. In an interview with Reuters, he called Israel and Gaza a "cost-of-living issue" for Americans. Stevens said at her campaign headquarters that they wouldn't know results until early morning or tomorrow, but she feels great about the race. From an Israeli perspective, an El-Sayed victory would be particularly significant, signaling to Democrats that a strong anti-Israel stance can win in a key state primary. El-Sayed refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. In Missouri, according to projections, Wesley Bell defeated Cori Bush, a sharp critic of Israel, while Bell supported the continuation of the security alliance. In Michigan, another achievement for the anti-Israel camp: Youssef Rabi, dubbed "the next Zohran Mamdani," defeated incumbent mayor Christopher Taylor in the Ann Arbor mayoral primary.