Palestine-supporting progressive leader and physician Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic Senate nomination in the US state of Michigan, defeating Congresswoman Haley Stevens in one of the most expensive and closely watched primary contests in recent US political history.According to NBC News, total spending in the race reached nearly $65 million, with a significant portion spent on efforts to prevent El-Sayed’s victory. With 92.9 percent of votes counted, El-Sayed secured 48.7 percent of the vote, while Stevens received 47.3 percent.El-Sayed’s victory is being viewed as a major setback for pro-Israel lobbying groups, particularly the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The group reportedly spent more than $30 million supporting Stevens in an effort to defeat El-Sayed, one of the Democratic Party’s most outspoken pro-Palestinian candidates.After the result was confirmed, Michigan state legislator Mallory McMorrow, who had earlier withdrawn from the race, endorsed El-Sayed and expressed support for his campaign.The 41-year-old physician and political leader told supporters in Detroit after his victory that a bigger challenge was ahead. In November, he will face former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in the general election.The race is considered highly significant as it could influence which party controls the US Senate during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. Addressing Rogers after his win, El-Sayed said, “Mike, we are coming for you.”El-Sayed’s victory marks a significant moment for progressive Democrats and Arab American voters, many of whom rallied behind him over opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza and dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s traditional pro-Israel stance.During his campaign, El-Sayed accused outside groups of trying to “buy” the election through massive financial spending. He described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide” and argued that billions of dollars in US military aid to Israel should instead be invested in American healthcare, housing, education and infrastructure.His position gained strong support among Michigan voters who had organised against Joe Biden over his administration’s approach to the Gaza war.Source: Middle East Eye