First polls close as socialist insurgents eye Midwest gains in Dem civil war

Polls have begun closing across five US states holding primary elections, with the most closely watched contest in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary. The race pits progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed against establishment-backed Haley Stevens, reflecting a broader struggle between the party's left wing and its centrist establishment over the future direction of the Democratic Party.

El-Sayed has dismissed the significance of Stevens' establishment endorsements, arguing that "endorsements don't vote, people vote," while facing scrutiny over his association with far-left streamer Hasan Piker ahead of the vote. Virginia was among the first states to close its polls, with results from Michigan and other battlegrounds expected to signal whether socialist-aligned candidates can make gains in the Midwest as part of a wider ideological contest within the Democratic Party.