Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate race tests Democrats’ leftward shift

Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in Michigan, is running for a US Senate seat in the November 3 election, with his race seen as a key test of the Democratic Party's leftward shift in a swing state. El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim senator, campaigns against corporate money in politics and supports universal healthcare. He faces Republican attacks over his faith, while his narrow lead is backed by figures like Barack Obama and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Democratic Socialists of America are gaining influence, winning primaries in Detroit and New York, though moderate Democrats fear their radical goals, such as abolishing police, could alienate voters. El-Sayed identifies as a capitalist, not a socialist.