Progressives and moderate Democrats both see wins in primary races while Trump flexes power over GOP
Tuesday's primary elections across five US states delivered wins for both progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party, while also showcasing President Trump's continued grip on Republican primary contests. The results matter because they offer an early gauge of which strategy—populist policies or centrist positioning—resonates more with voters ahead of the midterms, and because Trump's endorsed candidates again prevailed comfortably in GOP races, reinforcing his dominance over the party.
The closest and most closely watched contest was Michigan's Senate primary, where progressive former county health director Abdul El-Sayed held a narrow, still-uncalled lead over establishment-backed Representative Haley Stevens in a race that attracted a record $52 million in outside spending, including from the pro-Israel group AIPAC. Elsewhere, results were mixed for progressives: William Lawrence won a competitive Michigan House primary, but in Missouri, establishment-backed Wesley Bell defeated progressive former Representative Cori Bush, who had backing from Bernie Sanders. On the Republican side, Trump-endorsed candidates John James (Michigan governor), Ty Masterson (Kansas governor) and Amanda McKinney (Washington's 4th District) all secured their nominations, while voters in Kansas and Missouri rejected separate Republican-backed ballot measures.
In short
- Michigan Senate primary too close to call between El-Sayed and Stevens
- Progressives split results; Cori Bush lost, William Lawrence won
- Trump-backed candidates swept GOP nominations in Michigan, Kansas, Washington
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Progressives can legitimately claim that their victories—including El-Sayed's narrow lead in Michigan and Lawrence's success—demonstrate that their bold policy agenda resonates with Democratic voters and mobilises grassroots energy, as evidenced by unprecedented campaign spending. They argue that principled positions on healthcare, workers' rights and economic justice inspire the base and represent the direction voters genuinely want the party to take.
The case against
Moderates equally point to their wins with Bell's decisive victory over a Sanders-backed progressive and Stevens' competitive showing, arguing that establishment-backed candidates with diverse coalition support—including business backing and pro-Israel groups—demonstrate the electability needed for general election success. They contend that pragmatic, centrist positioning allows Democrats to compete credibly in swing districts, where ideological purity matters less than winning seats.
Explained simply
US primary elections are contests in which voters choose each party’s candidate for the general election. Democrats are debating whether to focus on more left-wing policies or appeal to centrist voters, while Republicans are weighing candidates’ ties to Donald Trump, who remains a powerful influence in the party.
The Michigan Senate race has drawn particular attention because it pits progressive Abdul El-Sayed against more centrist Democrat Haley Stevens, amid heavy spending by outside groups. Other contests have produced wins for candidates from both Democratic wings, while Trump-backed Republicans have also won nominations in several states.
The results offer an early indication of which candidates and approaches have support before the midterm elections. They also show how party primaries can shape who voters get to choose between in the general election.