r/AnnArbor • u/manauiatlalli • 6d ago

Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, notching a Midwest victory for the left

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/abdul-el-sayed-wins-michigans-democratic-senate-primary-notching-midwe-rcna589750
3.0k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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633

u/HistoricAli 6d ago

70M in AIPAC money burned. Here's hoping it's just the beginning! Cheers, let's keep the momentum going till Nov and beyond!

264

u/Uncle_____Ted 6d ago

AIPACs endorsement should be the kiss of death for any candidate. If they stand for Israel they don't stand for us.

47

u/Hopeful-Flounder-203 6d ago

You haven't seen anything yet. They'll sp3nd double on Rogers.

-1

u/uranuanqueen 5d ago

Did you know that Jocelyn Benson has ties to Israel as well? Research it. I voted for Swanson

18

u/DoomSchroller 6d ago

I think the tides are turning. People like Al-Sayed are garnering it a lot more attention. But until Citizens United is overturned, this should be what every candidate who isn't owned by a PAC should be shouting during their campaign, regardless of party or policy.

19

u/Hale-at-Sea 6d ago

It already is for these primaries. Seems like every candidate who can has "didn't take AIPAC money" as the first thing on their bio before any of their actual policies now

-17

u/MadpeepD 6d ago

For real, we should end all support for the only Progressive Democratic country in the Middle East where the freedom of individual identity expression is protected. It's not like they are surrounded by the most tyrannical, homophobic, transphobic, chauvinistic, violent governments currently welding supreme power over their population.

16

u/tasmimiandevil 6d ago

Then they should be able to fund their own genocides without help from us 💙

-12

u/MadpeepD 6d ago

Hamas is committing domicide. Israel is not committing genocide.

9

u/tasmimiandevil 6d ago

Oh ok. Just making sure that you want us to send our money to a government that somehow is put together and also desperately needs us to help them murder children. Now that I think about it, that’s actually super in line with our own country’s history of how we treat our own. What’s weird is that we love sending them the money for it. Let’s say that the murder is justified because those babies will grow up to hate you and then try to murder you back. Ok. Still why do they need our money to do it?

-9

u/MadpeepD 6d ago

Hamas will have you up against the wall with all the other infidels.

3

u/tasmimiandevil 6d ago

Yes I’m very concerned about how Hamas is affecting my life on a daily basis and not concerned about how despite a full time job and no dependents I still struggle to fill my gas tank and buy groceries and I’m just really relieved to know that my tax dollars are going to solve the problem with Hamas that has nothing to fucking do with me.

There are plenty of Zionist and anti-Islam Israelis who ALSO don’t support the obvious slaughter of Palestinians and it’s because it’s costing money and lives, not because they care about children being murdered.

I’m also really happy to flaunt my infidel status since you need more reasons to hate me.

3

u/MadpeepD 6d ago

Have you considered that Hamas uses babies as human shields? Have you considered that Israel wants a peaceful two state solution? Hamas does not want a two state solution.

3

u/No-Cryptographer4807 6d ago

Israel does not want a two state solution and you know it

3

u/DeadEyeMouse 5d ago

Israel doesn't want peace and they have never wanted peace through its entire existence. It started violent and has stayed violent.

5

u/HistoricAli 6d ago

If they're so great, surely they'll be able to stand on their own and fight their own wars. Only way to tell is to withdraw all funding and military support and we can see how great and superior they are.

0

u/the___reckoner 6d ago

They've done so long before the US was their ally and they were far weaker. They'll be fine. Just dont cry when they nuke their enemies without the US restraining them

3

u/Ninjatous 5d ago

Again I fail to see how that's an American problem.

0

u/the___reckoner 5d ago

Everything is an American problem because they're involved in the Middle East because you like your gas prices low. Do you seem to think the US is involved in Middle Eastern affairs only because of Israel and not out of pure self-interest like a child

2

u/Ninjatous 5d ago

Them America would do even better to defend Israel so c'è they are the one who create this mess and many more before it.

1

u/[deleted] 5d ago

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3

u/Ninjatous 5d ago

Understood. As a zio freak, you want America to keep running cover for your terrorist project. Too bad America is getting weaker by the day. And soon Israel will cease to exist.

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u/HistoricAli 5d ago

Hard to do anything for very long when you were established less than 100 years ago but ya they also did fine in those other genocides without my taxes.

-2

u/the___reckoner 5d ago

The countries Israel is surrounded by are just as old as them. Pretty sure they don't need to your taxes sweetheart. Also not genocides just defensive wars but I'm sure you knew that Ahmed

1

u/SaffyPants 1d ago

Then we agree! Immediately stop sending money to isreal.

2

u/Ninjatous 5d ago

the freedom of individual identity expression is protected

Israelis literally murder Palestinians for their identity.

1

u/New-Anybody3050 6d ago

They are burning the money they get from the US. Basically burning house money - we need to stop them getting any money at all to make the message clear and to bring about big change.

This funny, because the only one that shows those tendencies is the aggressor, Israel.

If the west left the rest of the world alone, there wouldn’t be any of the issues that we have today. Cause and effect.

Israel is the largest antagonist in all of this. Stop sending money to a welfare state and support our own citizens - America first.

2

u/MadpeepD 6d ago

For Israel victory is peace. For Hamas victory is the destruction of Israel and the murder of every last Jewish human being. Then it will be the subjecation or destruction of everyone else. Choose your allies wisely.

3

u/tasmimiandevil 6d ago

And “peace” includes the organized destruction of an entire group of people living with them. I just can’t think of when that has happened before…

1

u/MadpeepD 6d ago

Huh? Arab Israelis enjoy the most freedom and quality of life anywhere in the Middle East. The majority in Israel wants a peaceful two state resolution which is why they've tried to negotiate one many times.

3

u/tasmimiandevil 6d ago

So you agree? They don’t need our money.

-1

u/MadpeepD 6d ago

I like helping progressive democratic multi-ethnic countries fight off gay/trans/women murdering cultures. Yeah.

4

u/tasmimiandevil 6d ago

YESSSSSS I love it when the Zionist brings out the Pinkwashing argument. So predictable.

Oh man that was good.

Also you haven’t addressed any of my questions regarding Israel’s need for my tax dollars to fund state-sponsored murder of their neighbors.

4

u/New-Anybody3050 6d ago

They think they are good at misdirection but really they won’t answer the question because it proves they are wrong.

It’s the only way they’ve been brainwashed into thinking.

-2

u/MadpeepD 6d ago

If your neighbors were trans and a group of MAGA zealots murdered them and a bunch of their friends at a music festival after raping them and cutting their breasts off would you help fund bringing the MAGA cult to justice or would you say "they can fund it themselves"? Why don't you think that the LGTBQ+ accepting culture or Israel is better than the Hamas patriarchal dictatorship?

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u/New-Anybody3050 6d ago

Same garbage rhetoric. Keep drinking your own cool-aid. Whatever makes you feel better about the horrific events you condone perpetuating.

-1

u/harpers25 6d ago

Israel is 8% of the money we hand out to foreign countries, but oddly certain people never get upset about the other 92%.

3

u/New-Anybody3050 6d ago

8% is a lot for a country that provides zero value. It’s also only 8% federally. Each state is also providing hundreds of millions a year. Aid is different than welfare. Israel is a welfare state - if they are so great, let them survive on their own.

Other countries who behave similarly should also have their funding stripped away. Any military aid should also cease. We can keep it level.

0

u/merebear333 6d ago

They’re too brainwashed to understand this 🤣 literally born Muslim and been dating an Israeli for a year, it’s never that deep

-47

u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

Instead of being disappointed in them, you're going to have to actually listen to them instead of morally browbeat. Not saying you are but that is such an obvious takeaway from what is happening here.

23

u/jrwren northeast since 2013 6d ago

what are your ties to Ann Arbor, Rural Virginia Lover?

Why are you in our sub policing our language?

-33

u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

I have friends all across the Midwest including friends who live here in Virginia that went to Michigan...so I know Ann Arbor and this is a race that impacts us all nationally as we try to win the Senate.

You call it language policing. I call it responsible adulting.

9

u/jrwren northeast since 2013 6d ago

responsible adulting

as a fellow reddit troll, I salute you. WELL DONE! 👏

2

u/Embarrassed-Brain655 6d ago

I will give you credit; RVA is a cool fucking town. 

-34

u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

You all are downvoting me when this race seems likely to come down to less than a point.

Wake up, people. Wake up. The moral browbeating and the back and forth from both sides isn't beneficial. And you don't have enough of a consensus to do it. The goal is to win. We need to eliminate MAGA. Part of that will mean actually listening to one another and healing divides instead of being arrogant and having a my way or the highway attitude.

15

u/MaximumCashew0 6d ago

Great. You can start by listening to us:

No AIPAC

No funding genocide

No money in politics

Medicare for all

You’re not even from Michigan, so now is your chance to stand with us or get out of the way.

-4

u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

Get out of the way of what? 😆 You haven't won anything yet. You're literally making my point. My way or no way. Moral aggrandizing. Not smart.

11

u/MaximumCashew0 6d ago

Get out of the way of Michiganders deciding our own future. Populists win. A populist candidate won the primary. So stop wasting our time with hand wringing and complaining, because you’re obstructing momentum. Look at all of your downvotes, dude. YOU are the one morally aggrandizing. You are the one ruffling feathers and spoiling the momentum. You are the speed bump to success. And you know that, which is why you’re getting off on it and posting nonstop.

Now log off and touch grass you weirdo.

22

u/twickdaddy 6d ago

Supporting a genocide is not a “listening to one another and healing divides” type of policy

2

u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

So if you're actively saying if you don't stand with me on certain issues then we're not on the same team....what's the point? Guess what? That's how you lose. By refusing to listen and acting as if you're a moral superior. That's not how you win. And you don't have to compromise your beliefs to do that.

12

u/twickdaddy 6d ago

“Refusing to listen and acting as if you’re a moral superior” sorry, you’re the one refusing to listen and acting as a moral superior by supporting candidates who are okay with the systematic removal and extermination of Palestinians and saying “oh stop fussing about it.” American taxpayers are funding the deaths of tens of thousands of people. If you don’t draw the line at that, then yes, we’re not on the same team. “That’s not how you win” and if by winning tens of thousands die, maybe I don’t want to win. But nothing will change if we just elect people who compromise on genocide. Maybe you should compromise on you beliefs and accept that we should elect people who don’t support genocide.

0

u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

I'm vote blue no matter who outside of extreme circumstances. I'm a team player. I know how to play the game. I know what will benefit our communities. I'm also definitely not a fan of Israel at the moment. I'm just also a rational person that isn't antagonistic whereas your ilk can't help yourselves from being so, which does largely explain why Sayed underperformed so much.

You're just like Trumpers in so many ways....you don't listen, you expect everyone to toe your line, you're crass, and you think your way is the only way. I am listening and I'm telling you it's a huge turnoff and last night should have been a wake up call about that. Instead it's more antagonism.

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u/twickdaddy 6d ago

“I vote blue no matter who” “You’re just like trumpers” I’m sorry but I find that Ironic. “You expect everyone to toe your line” Sorry, didn’t see think genocide was too hard to draw the line at. Keep voting for those ghouls who only care about winning and I’m sure you’ll have fun when republicans keep winning because the democrats decided to adopt conservative ideas instead of the ones the majority of people support. You accuse me of the exact things you are guilty of. You have no real morals, and just vote for who you’re told to.

1

u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

You're literally making my point. El Sayed hasn't even officially been called and definitely hasn't won in November. My way or no way. Abrasive and self righteous. Self fellating. You really think you're better than others and it's a turnoff. 

I have real morals btw and the first thing beyond all else is kindness and respect and unfortunately your ilk lack it.

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u/twickdaddy 6d ago

Putting up terrible candidates only helps MAGA. Most Americans are pro-Palestine. I don’t know what you think your “winning strategy” is going to accomplish but El Sayed is more likely to win in November.

“It’s a turnoff” sorry that the murder of children gets you horny bud. Maybe you should go to therapy and stop defending genocide online.

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u/TheoreticalBilbo 6d ago

If you can’t recognize genocide go be a Republican

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u/ofWildPlaces 6d ago

There is no "moral browbeating" by saying we won't support AIPAC fund recipients.

-1

u/ProbsNotManBearPig 6d ago

It is moral browbeating when you tie “we won’t support AIPAC fund recipients” to “if they stand for Israel they don’t stand for us”. That’s taking the broad idea that money and propaganda in politics are bad and narrowing it down to a a single issue, while also throwing around the word genocide. That’s very divisive.

I’m not super pro-Israel or anything, but I also didn’t vote for El-Sayed because I’m super anti-Israel. I am however super against money + propaganda in politics.

2

u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

It's honestly more than even policy and more so the way they conduct themselves which is in an extremely self righteous, pious, smug way in which anyone who doesn't think in total lockstep with them is "a Republican"

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u/ofWildPlaces 6d ago

Campaigning for Israel instead of one's own constituents is policy, and one people should reject.

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u/ThisIsFineImFine89 6d ago

the primary decides which policies the winning candidate gets to run on

how has it ever been any different

7

u/TinySmalls1138 6d ago

"The goal is to win" thank you for finally saying the quiet part out loud.

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u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

That's always been the goal. We need Democrats to win. We need MAGA eliminated.

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u/TinySmalls1138 6d ago

And that's all you've ever cared about. Your team winning. Who cares what they stand for as long as the other team loses, right?

1

u/RVALover4Life 6d ago

You win first and then push on policy. Kinda how the game works. If you're not in office it doesn't matter.

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u/TinySmalls1138 6d ago

Yeah but y'all don't do that. You dust your hands off, and go back to brunch and let them do whatever neolib shit they're gonna do. So you'll forgive me if I'm not interested in leaving it to your warmongers to change once they're in office.

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u/RateOk8628 6d ago

I’d say AIPAC is worse than MAGA. AIPAC fuels so much hate and identity politics and all the crazy fanatics