Defeating Candidate Backed by Israel Lobby, El-Sayed Causes Stir at White House, Disappoints Trump

Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive figure and staunch critic of Israel’s war in the Middle East, has won the Democratic primary for a US Senate seat in Michigan by a narrow margin. He succeeded despite the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC pouring in a massive, record-breaking amount of funds to support his rival, Haley Stevens. El-Sayed—the son of Egyptian immigrants and a former health official who has never held elected office—garnered 48.48 percent of the vote on Tuesday, according to reports from the Associated Press. His main opponent, moderate Congresswoman Haley Stevens, received 47.51 percent. If he defeats former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in the November general election, El-Sayed stands to become the first Muslim US senator.