Centrist Democrats Would Rather Lose the Senate Than Win With El-Sayed

After defeating Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, Abdul El-Sayed faced pressure from party moderates to condemn an advert linking rising prices to US military support for Israel. Though his campaign had no role in making or distributing it, El-Sayed’s team distanced itself from the advert; Stevens then set conditions for her support, prompting questions about whether Democratic leaders would rather risk the seat than back a candidate critical of Israel.

The article argues that El-Sayed’s opposition to US policy towards Israel is the main source of establishment Democrats’ concern, rather than his domestic programme. It says recent polls showed competitive Senate races in several states, while former president Barack Obama and Representative Jim Clyburn were backing El-Sayed. The supplied article ends mid-sentence, so it does not include the full account of the reaction in Michigan.