Thursday, August 6th

Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary by about 1 point, taking 48.5% to Rep. Haley Stevens’ 47.5% with 99% of ballots counted before Stevens conceded Wednesday. The result gives progressives a statewide Senate nominee in a battleground state after a primary that split Democrats over ideology, electability and Israel. El-Sayed, a 41-year-old former public health official and epidemiologist, will face Republican Mike Rogers in November. Democrats moved to consolidate behind him as Republicans opened attacks and El-Sayed challenged Rogers to five debates.

The Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the CDC on Wednesday in a 51-44 vote, giving the agency its first Senate-confirmed permanent leader in nearly a year. Schwartz, President Donald Trump's third nominee for the role, won support from Republicans and Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the only Democrat to vote yes. She is a former deputy U.S. surgeon general and retired Coast Guard officer, and will be the first Black woman to lead CDC. The vacancy followed the ouster of Susan Monarez in late August 2025 after 29 days, amid conflict over vaccine policy with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Thomas J. Smith won Michigan’s 8th Congressional District Republican primary with about 50% of the vote after suspending his campaign in mid-July and remaining on the ballot. Smith defeated Amir Hassan, President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate, who finished around 33%, and anti-abortion activist Al Lemmo, whom Smith had endorsed after ending his bid. Smith had raised virtually no money and ran no ads. He is now the GOP nominee against Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in a battleground district Trump carried by 2 points in 2024.