Three Michigan races put the progressive movement's reach on display

Michigan progressives woke up Wednesday after a banner night: Abdul El-Sayed overcame an outsized cash advantage in the Democratic Senate primary, Will Lawrence won a battleground House nomination, and Donavan McKinney ousted Rep. Shri Thanedar. Why it matters: Thesweep signals the left's growing strength in a key swing state. The state's Democratic Socialists of America chapters, the Working Families Party and the United Auto Workers all flexed their muscles Tuesday up and down the ballot. State of play: El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, clung to a narrow lead over four-term Rep. Haley Stevens — 48.5%–47.5% with 99% of the vote counted. He will face Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan's open Senate seat, a must-win for Democrats hoping to gain Senate control. Lawrence, a Sunrise Movement co-founder, upset Bridget Brink, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and Matt Maasdam, a former Navy SEAL, winning the 7th district nomination by 15 points. Lawrence will try to flip the swing seat held by GOP Rep. Tom Barrett. State Rep. McKinney, a Democratic Socialists of America member backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), defeated Thanedar51.9%–48.1% in a solidly blue seat. Thanedar isthe latest House Democrat toppled by the left. The big picture: The bitter and expensive campaign became the most notable proxy battle between the Democratic Party's establishment and progressive wings. El-Sayed has said he's not a democratic socialist, but many DSA members have backed him. Zoom in: The left saw even more victories downballot, with a DSA member ousting an incumbent state representative, a cofounder of the Uncommitted Movement nominated in a state senate race and a Working Families Party-endorsed candidate set to win an open state house seat. A socialist was also named the Democratic nominee in Ann Arbor's mayoral race and is unopposed in November. Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.