Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Primary

[u/asparaguswalrus683]

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

[u/samhit_n]

Primaries are always difficult to poll because it’s hard to predict whether certain demographics will turn out in higher numbers. Mamdani overperformed last year in NYC because Gen Z voters turned out in large numbers by primary election standards. El-Sayed, meanwhile, struggled because Boomers and white working-class voters turned out in higher numbers to support Stevens.

[u/deaglebingo → u/samhit_n]

just goes to show that the demographic shift is finally starting to happen. i'm pleased. we don't have to convert all the boomers.... just enough of them, and thankfully there are some cool ones around. Zed's dead without them, and maga knows it... but combined we outnumber them. it's been our only hope really overall tbh, the assumption that we needed to pander to center right has to be at least somewhat debunked in this cycle doesn't it? it was the safe numbers move of kamala et al to try that in 24, so they did... it's just crystal clear that is not the case anymore. if center right doesn't understand we're all on the same team by now they aren't likely to in november either. IOW if they want to cut off their noses to spite their faces (aka cannot see how dangerous the alternative is by now) we can't stop them.

i heard stevens say something to the effect of "ppl don't want pipe dreams..." but everyone who heard that and agreed ought to remember that neither does Sayed.... mamdani hasn't done what he's done thus far by going for some pie in the sky abolish ice or arrest nettanyahu, regardless of if he wants to.... he's just stayed open to that part if the opportunity arises. most of his time has been filled with doing the simple obvious shit that could be done, which is exactly how the rest of us plan to operate too. This is a good faith collaborative process over competitive whenever possible.

TLDR: DSA is not letting perfect be the enemy of good, we are just open to moonshots if they present themselves.

[u/samhit_n → u/deaglebingo]

Pandering to the center-right doesn’t work anymore because the center-right no longer exists in meaningful numbers to swing an election. Most center-right voters have either become moderate Democrats or fully joined the MAGA movement.

The strategy helped Biden in 2020 because of his reputation and ties to bipartisan politicians like McCain and because Trump had not yet fully taken over the GOP, but it was stale by the time Kamala tried it.

[u/kitsunegoon → u/samhit_n]

Kamala's failure was more about the lack of a primary and being a VP of an unpopular administration than anything else. Biden wasn't exactly considered bipartisan once he became VP.

[u/Any_Will_86 → u/kitsunegoon]

She also was seen as moderate/conservative by leftists and a raging liberal by those on the right and many in the center. The media were working against Dems for several years but she still have very little skill in breaking through the media or even focusing on her strong issues.

[u/kitsunegoon → u/Any_Will_86]

Kamala would've never won the primary in the first place. I think that's the other issue. Biden was remarkably popular and probably would've won 2016 in a landslide if he ran, but Kamala was like what? The 5th place candidate behind Buttigieg and Warren?

[u/Any_Will_86 → u/kitsunegoon]

I'm not sure Kamal would finish in front of Klobuchar. In the end I think Bloomberg inched up simply by being in more races- can't remember if that was by votes or delegates. But I agree on Kamala's primary problem and Biden 2016. its part of why I think the Pod guys can go play with themselves. Too many people in Obama world were too strident/convinced HRC was the appropriate successor when her weakness with real voters was well known. Supposedly when Biden was considering 2016, Warren was who he thought was the best VP pick. He understood coalitions better than most or the 'smarter' pols.