Democratic socialists poised for primary wins in Michigan and Wisconsin

Aug 2, 2026

Progressive candidates are surging in key Democratic primaries in Michigan and Wisconsin, alarming the party establishment. In Michigan's Senate race, Abdul El-Sayed, backed by Bernie Sanders, faces Rep. Haley Stevens, who is supported by over $50 million in outside spending. In Wisconsin, Francesca Hong is the frontrunner for the gubernatorial nomination. The races are seen as a test of the party's future, with fears that left-leaning nominees could be unelectable in crucial swing states.

Progressive Primary Challenges

▪Establishment Democrats fear that nominating left-leaning candidates could jeopardize the party's chances in crucial swing states.
▪Key progressive candidates include Francesca Hong for Wisconsin governor, Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan Senate, and Will Lawrence for Michigan's 7th Congressional District.
▪The potential progressive victories are being compared to the Tea Party movement that impacted the Republican party in 2010.

Michigan Senate Primary Dynamics

▪Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer intervened in the Michigan race to try to prevent Abdul El-Sayed from becoming the nominee.
▪The Michigan Democratic Senate primary pits establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens against progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
▪The winner of the Michigan primary will likely face Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election.
▪More than $50 million in outside spending, including from AIPAC-funded super PACs, has supported Haley Stevens' campaign in the Michigan Senate primary.
▪State Sen. Mallory McMorrow dropped out of the Michigan Senate race on July 5, 2026, creating a one-on-one matchup between Stevens and El-Sayed.

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Primary

▪Francesca Hong has tried to distance herself from the national DSA platform, stating she does not support all of it.
▪State assemblywoman Francesca Hong is the frontrunner in the Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin.
▪The winner of the Wisconsin Democratic primary is expected to face Republican US Rep. Tom Tiffany in the November election.
▪In a 2021 social media post, Francesca Hong wrote: "Police exist to uphold white supremacy. Defund then abolish. Reform can’t be an option."
▪Hong's top two Democratic rivals, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, both dropped out of the Wisconsin gubernatorial race in July 2026.

Democratic Party Divisions

▪In the Michigan Senate race, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Sen. Gary Peters have endorsed Haley Stevens.
▪In the Michigan Senate race, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have endorsed Abdul El-Sayed.
▪The Michigan Senate primary is considered a defining test of the Democratic party's ideological direction.

Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Platform

▪The DSA's platform includes a 32-hour workweek, universal healthcare, reparations for slavery, and steps towards abolishing the police and prison system.
▪The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest socialist organization in American history, with 120,000 members nationwide.

Key Policy Debate: Medicare for All

▪Abdul El-Sayed has made "Medicare for All" a central theme of his campaign for the Michigan Senate nomination.
▪Abdul El-Sayed is a former public health director for Detroit and Wayne County and co-authored a book on Medicare for All.