Dems Attempt to Rally Around El-Sayed After Michigan Senate Primary
One of the Democratic Party’s most closely watched primary battles has come to an end after months of campaigning, sharp personal attacks, and deep ideological divisions.
The outcome is expected to have national implications as both parties compete for control of the U.S. Senate in next year’s election.
Far-left candidate Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, defeating Rep. Haley Stevens after one of the most closely watched and expensive Democratic primary contests of the 2026 election cycle.
And now, Democrats in the state and nationally are attempting to portray a unified front despite El-Sayed’s noted anti-Israel, anti-Semitic stances and political policy positions that put him and the Democratic Socialists of America aligned with him at odds with the U.S. Constitution and the country’s founding.
With fewer than three months remaining before the general election, El-Sayed is set to face Republican Mike Rogers in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests.
The race is expected to play a key role in determining which party controls the U.S. Senate, increasing pressure on Democrats to unify behind their nominee.
“The things that unite us are so much bigger than the things that divide us,” El-Sayed claimed in a Wednesday speech.
The race became open after Democratic Sen. Gary Peters announced he would not seek reelection. Michigan remains one of the nation’s key battleground states, having voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, and Trump again in 2024.
Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary by less than one percentage point, told CBS News on Thursday that she is willing to campaign alongside Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in the general election.
“Whatever he wants me to do,” she said, per NBC News.
Immediately after the race was called on Wednesday, El-Sayed called out his opponents for attempting to use his full name as a smear.
The son of Egyptian immigrants — whose full name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed — went after Rogers and other Republicans during a victory speech for using his full name in social media pieces.
“But right now, as bitter and as divisive and as cynical as the campaign against us might have been, I want us to realize that there is so much more that unites us now,” El-Sayed told supporters.
“Because the campaign that Mike Rogers and Donald Trump, and their GOP MAGA allies, are launching is already more bitter. All you gotta do is look at the ads you’re already watching on TV, starting today,” El-Sayed added.
For his part, Rogers, in a video posted to social media on Thursday, made an appeal to the moderate Democrats in Michigan who supported Stevens and reject El-Sayed’s radical left agenda.
“You have a home with us,” he said in the video, seated next to his wife.
“To young people who are looking for real solutions to solve our housing affordability crisis, you have a home with us,” Rogers continued.
“To working families who don’t want higher taxes and lower paychecks, well, you have a home with us.”
“If you’re among the majority of Democratic voters that woke up on Wednesday feeling, well, hopeless, because the person who won does not represent your values, well, just know, there is still hope. Michigan deserves a senator who is ready to sit with you, hear from you, and represent you,” he added.
“To the vast majority of people across Michigan who do not want to throw their support behind a campaign filled with anger, divisiveness, calls for violence, and the views that are out of touch with your values, well, you have a home with us,” said Rogers.
“The fight is far greater than just left versus right,” he noted.
“The fight is for the very soul of our nation. Over the next 90 days I’m going to work hard to earn your trust, to earn your support, and earn your vote. We have a state to save Michigan.”
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
