Abdul El-Sayed won backing from progressive leaders for Michigan’s 2026 Senate race. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaigned for him. They hailed it a pivotal test for progressive goals. Funding from progressive PACs rose fast to help his campaign beat foes. At the same time, a major pro-Israel lobby group set a new spending high in the state to test its pull in Senate fights. Michigan voters also debated the age gap in the U.S. Senate. Some said El-Sayed’s youth stood out against older senators.