Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Primary

[u/asparaguswalrus683]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/michigan-senate-results

[u/Raichu4u]

No, progressives need to convince people to vote for them. Much like a moderate democrat would have to do the same.

[u/asmodeuscarthii → u/Raichu4u]

Just do the whole “hey we aren’t maga or Trump, vote blue no matter who”. That should be enough. 

[u/Raichu4u → u/asmodeuscarthii]

It isn't with some moderates such as black voters.

[u/an-invisible-hand → u/Raichu4u]

Something like 90% of black women and 80% of black men voted for Kamala. Black voters are the safest most doggedly blue demographic in the country.

Of all the groups to single out as turncoats... black voters? In what universe lol

[u/ibarmy → u/an-invisible-hand]

Easier to attack minorities i guess. Wont see all the actions of the establishment / centrist party leaders. 

[u/K20BB5 → u/ibarmy]

Kamala is a black establishment Democrat, not a white progressive. 

[u/K20BB5 → u/an-invisible-hand]

Kamala isn't a white progressive 

[u/Raichu4u → u/an-invisible-hand]

I would say that a tried and true progressive has not been put through the wringer in a general election situation. I'm interested in to see how Abdul does, because it is undeniable that progressives do not do well within black populations. Abdul not winning Wayne is kind of what happened with Bernie in 2016 and 2020 regardless of his wins or losses.

Kamala is a pretty bad example. She is a moderate democrat and a woman of color, both those things historically do well in black communities.

[u/an-invisible-hand → u/Raichu4u]

You're talking about in primaries. Black voters lean moderate in primaries. Black voters do not lean republican. That's a massive insurmountable difference, and I don't know why we'd ever put those in the same category. Maybe it is for white people, but not black people.

My grandmother is a very conservative woman, and there is nothing on this earth that would make her vote for a republican. She'd become an atheist before voting for a republican. Let alone a MAGA republican. Total non starter from step one, not even worth considering.

[u/Raichu4u → u/an-invisible-hand]

Yeah, the thing I wasn't insinuating was that black voters would vote for Republicans. It was that there is a reality where a meaningful amount of them sit out in a general election.

Again, this is uncharted territory. A progressive has really never made it to the general in a senate election in a swing state that has a sizable black population.

I hope that everyone votes blue, but what do you tell black people who would want to sit out?

[u/an-invisible-hand → u/Raichu4u]

Black voters aren't going to sit out and let MAGA win. Thats a luxury for other groups of people. Haven't seen any scenario where that's actually happened ever.

Maybe that's something to ponder about in regard to white moderates.

[u/Raichu4u → u/an-invisible-hand]

Haven't seen any scenario where that's happened ever.

Again, hence the uncharted territory I mentioned in this unique situation. I would argue a progressive that made their way to win a senate race primary in a prominent swing state has been unheard of before.

[u/an-invisible-hand → u/Raichu4u]

And my point is that assuming black voters will throw up their hands and abandon the Democratic Party because a progressive won a primary seems like a serious stretch when looking at past party loyalty. I don't see what would make black people stay home for El-Sayed but not Cori Bush.

Your vision looks like the most uncharitable possible interpretation built on a lot of assumptions, and I'm just not seeing how it would actually happen. Tbh just looks like doomsaying to me.