The Democratic primary for the open Senate seat in Michigan appeared too close to call Tuesday night, with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens locked in a tight race that had become a proxy fight over the Gaza war and a referendum on Israel supporters’ influence in Democratic politics.

Later, El-Sayed devoted a chunk of his speech to ensuring the safety of Michigan’s Jews, still rattled by his equivocal reaction to an attack on a suburban Detroit synagogue earlier this year.

Former county health official Abdul El-Sayed jumped ahead of U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary with 21% of the vote being reported. The progressive El-Sayed was ahead of establishment favorite Stevens 52% to 44.

Tuesday’s primary contest for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan has become a proxy fight over the Gaza war and a referendum on Israel supporters’ influence in Democratic politics. Democratic voters will decide whether to nominate Dr.

Bill Hemmer got into it with Rep. Debbie Dingell, asking how she can endorse Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D) if she does not support his anti-Israel views.

Two House candidates backed by the Senate hopeful, plus a pro-Israel Jew and an ‘Uncommitted’ veteran, are in the wings.

The two Michigan Democrats vying for their party’s nomination in a US Senate race clashed in a debate on Tuesday night over Middle East policy, focusing on America’s relations with Israel.

Michigan’s Senate primary tests AIPAC’s influence and who gets to define Jewish political power and Democratic support for Israel.