Abdul El-Sayed won support from progressive leaders for Michigan’s 2026 Senate race. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hit the trail for him. They framed it a key moment for progressive goals. Funding from progressive PACs rose fast to help his bid beat foes. At the same time, a major pro-Israel lobby group set a new spending high in the state to test its pull in Senate fights. Michigan voters also discussed the age gap in the U.S. Senate. Some said El-Sayed’s fresh face set him apart against older senators.