Chuck Schumer Tepidly Backs Abdul El-Sayed After Michigan Nominee Called for His Ouster
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer offered a notably restrained endorsement of Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed after the progressive candidate won his primary despite previously calling for Schumer to be replaced as the party’s leader in the Senate.
El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, delivering a major upset to the party establishment. Schumer had endorsed Stevens and backed her campaign, but Democrats are now attempting to unite behind El-Sayed as they fight to keep the Michigan Senate seat in November.
Following El-Sayed’s victory, Schumer said he had a “great conversation” with the nominee and emphasized the importance of defeating Republican Mike Rogers. Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand also issued a joint statement declaring that Democrats are united behind their Senate candidates.
The endorsement, however, was far from enthusiastic. When pressed about whether Schumer personally and fully supported El-Sayed, his spokesman pointed back to the joint statement rather than offering a more forceful declaration of support. The awkwardness comes after a bitter primary in which Schumer backed El-Sayed’s opponent.
Adding to the tension is El-Sayed’s previous demand for new Democratic leadership in Washington. During the primary, he said he would support replacing Schumer as Senate Democratic leader and indicated that Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland would be his preferred alternative. Even after winning the nomination, El-Sayed has not completely abandoned that position.
El-Sayed ran on a progressive platform that included Medicare for All and opposition to unconditional U.S. military assistance to Israel. His victory over the establishment-backed Stevens immediately elevated him as one of the most prominent figures in the Democratic Party’s growing progressive wing.
Republicans have quickly moved to portray El-Sayed as far outside Michigan’s political mainstream. President Trump called his victory good news for Republicans, while Rogers framed the general election as a choice between his own approach and El-Sayed’s progressive agenda. Michigan is expected to be one of the most important Senate battlegrounds of the midterm elections.
Despite their differences, Schumer and El-Sayed now have a shared political objective. Democrats need to defend Michigan if they hope to have a realistic chance of winning control of the Senate, leaving party leaders little choice but to rally around a nominee many of them opposed only days earlier.
The uneasy alliance highlights the growing divide between the Democratic establishment and its progressive wing. Schumer is now publicly backing a candidate who defeated his preferred choice and has openly questioned his leadership, setting up an unusual partnership as Democrats attempt to keep Michigan from flipping Republican in November.