Abdul El-Sayed is getting a warmer reception from Democratic leaders after his upset victory in Michigan, with former President Barack Obama calling him Friday to talk about bringing the party together for November. On Tuesday, Democrats in Wisconsin could face the same challenge, with democratic socialist Francesca Hong leading the primary for governor over a more moderate rival.
Hong, a 37-year-old state representative and former chef, has maintained a wide lead in public polling over Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Her rise follows El-Sayed’s narrow victory last week over Rep. Haley Stevens, the establishment-backed candidate in Michigan’s Senate primary.
The disagreement in both states is straightforward: Candidates running well to the left of Democratic leaders are winning support in the primaries, while others in the party question whether they can win statewide in November.
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Obama calls El-Sayed after his win
Obama stayed out of Michigan’s primary and did not endorse El-Sayed or Stevens, but he spoke with both candidates Friday after the race was over.
El-Sayed described his conversation with Obama as “very warm” and said he hopes the former president will campaign with him this fall.
“I really enjoyed the conversation and I was grateful for his advice,” El-Sayed told NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. “I know that he knows the critical role that Michigan is going to play in holding Trump accountable in winning back the Senate and building forward the future that we need.”
El-Sayed has also spoken with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, former Vice President Kamala Harris and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to The New York Times. Stevens has endorsed him.
Democrats are trying to keep the open Michigan Senate seat in November, when El-Sayed faces former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers. Rogers has already begun appealing to Democrats who believe El-Sayed is too far left, telling them in a campaign video, “You have a home with us.”
Hong leads before Tuesday’s vote
In Wisconsin, Hong has centered her campaign on affordability, backing a $20 state minimum wage, higher taxes on wealthier residents and a one-year statewide moratorium on new data centers. She has kept a sizable polling lead despite spending nothing on traditional television advertising.
Crowley has the backing of outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who joined him on the trail in the final days before the primary. Both argue Crowley would be the stronger candidate against presumptive Republican nominee Tom Tiffany.
GOP-aligned groups have spent millions boosting Hong in the Democratic primary, Politico reports, because they view her as the weaker opponent for November.
Hong answers for past posts
Hong has also spent the closing stretch answering for old social media posts, including previous support for defunding police and comments criticizing Thanksgiving. She now says she would neither abolish nor defund police as governor and has acknowledged that some of what she posted amounted to “hot takes” and “bad takes.”
Hong argues that voters want Democrats to focus more aggressively on working-class concerns. Crowley is offering a more moderate alternative, arguing Democrats need a nominee who can win across a closely divided state.
Tiffany, a House Freedom Caucus member endorsed by Trump, is expected to be the Republican nominee.
Round out your reading
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