AOC endorses Abdul El Sayed in Michigan primary as anti-establishment momentum grows
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed leftist Democrat Abdul el Sayed in Michigan’s upcoming U.S. Senate primary. Her support signifies a shift in Democratic primaries, favoring anti-establishment and socialist-leaning candidates over centrist options, contrasting with House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s preferred candidate, rep. Haley Stevens. Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement aligns with recent victories for socialist candidates in New York City and reflects her backing of progressive voices within the party. El Sayed emphasizes reforms like Medicare for All, and has received endorsements from prominent progressives such as Bernie Sanders and Rashida Tlaib. his campaign is competitive, with polling showing a close race among him, Stevens, and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow. The primary is scheduled for August 4, and el Sayed has gained significant media traction amid rising anti-establishment momentum.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed leftist Democrat Abdul el Sayed in his campaign to be Michigan’s next U.S. senator on Thursday.
Ocasio-Cortez’s backing of el Sayed comes after a swing of several midterm election primaries showed momentum growing against the Democratic establishment, with voters in states such as New York and Colorado picking either socialist or anti-establishment challengers over mainstream Democrats. The move also bucks the primary goals of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), whose preferred candidate in the Michigan Senate race is the more centrist Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI).
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“Despite our ideological differences and whatever disagreements there are in the party, every single one of us sees this moment as existential,” Ocasio-Cortez told the New York Times, which reported the endorsement. “And I think many people are willing to put aside differences in order to give us the best chance at winning. And I think that Abdul gives us that right now.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s hometown of New York City just saw a sweeping midterm election victory for socialist and left-wing candidates of its own, each of whom rode the wave of momentum that Ocasio-Cortez-backed socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani established in 2025. U.S. House candidates running to represent different parts of New York City include Darializa Avila Chevalier, Brad Lander, and Claire Valdez, who all ousted incumbent or establishment-backed Democrats in a major blow to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
Coming off that momentum in her home state, Ocasio-Cortez’s backing of el Sayed also bucks the House and Senate Democratic leadership’s vision for the future of the chambers.
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In his run for Senate, el Sayed has called for passing “Medicare for all,” emphasized that he has never taken money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and embraced the controversial left-wing social media personality Hasan Piker. He is also backed by other progressive Democrats, including Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
El Sayed is taking on Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow in the Democratic primary on Aug. 4. El Sayed has gained significant traction over the past several months amid a flurry of media attention, but polling remains close between the three Democratic candidates.
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