Progressive U.S. Senate candidate has defeated moderate U.S. Rep. in Michigan’s Democratic primary, which became for the party鈥檚 direction. also included a Democratic primary victory by , who was targeted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee after denouncing Israel鈥檚 military action in Gaza.
President Donald Trump swings through Las Vegas on Wednesday for a speech on the economy after his at his Southern California golf course, where authorities arrested a man they said was claiming to be part of the security detail.
The House Ethics Committee has into domestic abuse allegations against Republican Rep. Max Miller as the embattled Ohio congressman faces escalating pressure to resign from his former father-in-law, Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno, and Trump. Democrats are eyeing the chance to .
Here is the latest:
Rogers calls El-Sayed an 鈥榚xtremist鈥� who represents 鈥榗omplete insanity鈥�
The Republican Senate nominee posted a lengthy statement on social media Wednesday, saying his general election opponent 鈥渋s leading a movement grounded in ideological fanaticism.鈥�
Rogers also swiped at El-Sayed for stumping with popular but controversial streamer , who has said 鈥淎merica deserved 9/11.鈥�
Rogers said he never imagined he鈥檇 face an opponent with that view, ascribing the comment to the candidate, not the online personality.
His own campaign, Rogers said, is based on the notion that 鈥淢ichigan has a future built on common sense.鈥�
AIPAC says it鈥檚 committed to defeating El-Sayed in November
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which spent roughly $30 million to in a failed effort to defeat El-Sayed in the Democratic primary, says it鈥檚 committed to opposing him in the general election.
鈥淥ur members remain determined to ensure that voters reject Dr. El-Sayed and his radical anti-Israel agenda in November,鈥� the group鈥檚 statement said.
El-Sayed responded on Wednesday: 鈥淵ou want more pain?鈥�
The son of Egyptian immigrants made AIPAC and the tens of millions of dollars it spent to support Rep. Haley Stevens a centerpiece of his primary campaign. He has called Israel鈥檚 military campaign in Gaza a 鈥済enocide,鈥� described the Israeli government as 鈥渆vil,鈥� and argued that AIPAC鈥檚 influence distorts Democratic politics.
Thune calls race between Rogers and El-Sayed 鈥榓 great contrast鈥�
On Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the Senate Republican leader called the GOP nominee 鈥渁 great candidate, very experienced鈥� who is 鈥渞unning a terrific campaign.鈥�
Thune spoke as El-Sayed addressed supporters at a victory news conference in Michigan and issued a five-debate challenge to Rogers.
Thune called the Democratic nominee 鈥渢he extreme radical choice,鈥� and said Democrats are 鈥済oing to have to accept those positions that he has been advocating for in a general election setting, which I think puts us in a pretty good spot.鈥�
GOP Senate super PAC ad labels El-Sayed 鈥榙angerously radical鈥�
That鈥檚 the theme of a new commercial out Wednesday from the Senate Leadership Fund, the principal super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
The ad features video clips of El-Sayed 鈥渋n his own words,鈥� calling himself 鈥渄angerous鈥� and vowing that, 鈥渦nder my leadership, our state will not expend a dime enforcing federal immigration policy.鈥�
The group says it鈥檚 spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to air the ad.
El-Sayed talks affordability, hammers Mike Rogers as beholden to Trump
El-Sayed focused on affordability and healthcare in his speech, inviting people who voted for Trump in 2024 to 鈥渏oin this movement now.鈥�
He positioned himself as the candidate who will stand up to Trump, in contrast to Rogers, who El-Sayed said went to Florida 鈥渟o he could lick every single boot Donald Trump owns.鈥�
El-Sayed challenges Rogers to 5 general election debates
鈥淚 know you鈥檙e gonna say no because you鈥檙e a coward,鈥� El-Sayed, addressing his Republican opponent directly.
鈥淔ive debates, all right? If you鈥檙e willing to stand with me and have a conversation, you and I both know that you will wither in front of your own crimes.鈥�
El-Sayed quotes boxing legend while speaking to supporters
鈥淚n the words of Muhammad Ali, we shook up the world,鈥� El-Sayed told supporters.
El-Sayed was heavily outspent in his primary campaign, and his insurgent candidacy was opposed by the Democratic establishment.
JD Vance quips about future 鈥楶resident El-Sayed鈥�
The vice president was addressing a roundtable focused on combating fraud, and making the point that the work of a task force he鈥檚 leading needs congressional approval to prevent its results from evaporating once the Trump administration is over.
鈥淕od forbid you鈥檙e going to have President El-Sayed in a few years,鈥� Vance said, referencing Abdul El-Sayed, who clinched Michigan鈥檚 Democratic Senate primary just moments prior to his remarks.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want him to undo all the incredible work that we鈥檝e been doing,鈥� Vance said.
Michigan Democrats rally around El-Sayed
Curtis Hertel, the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, urged unity within the Democratic party.
鈥淲e have got to work together to take this country back,鈥� Hertel said. 鈥淚 can tell you what we need is a fighter … Abdul El-Sayed has been a fighter for the people over and over again.鈥�
McMorrow said that 鈥渇or all of the differences that we may have had in the primary, that those differences pale in comparison to the contrast that we face in November.鈥�
Republicans are counting on rifts inside the Democratic Party, but 鈥渢his is the start of a celebration of all of us coming together,鈥� McMorrow said.
Democrats stress unity after difficult primary
Before speaking to supporters on Wednesday morning, El-Sayed spoke to state party chair Curtis Hertel Jr.
El-Sayed was flanked by Mallory McMorrow, the state senator who dropped her own primary campaign earlier this year after failing to gain traction. She announced her support for El-Sayed, and Stevens has as well.
Hertel stressed Democratic enthusiasm as the party looks toward November.
鈥淵esterday was the highest turnout for Democrats in the history of a primary,鈥� Hertel said.
Van Hollen says El-Sayed鈥檚 win is a 鈥榳ake-up call鈥� to establishment Democrats
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who backed Abdul El-Sayed, said in an interview that his victory is a 鈥渧ery significant win鈥� and shows that his politics has gained traction with voters.
鈥淭his should be a wake-up call to, you know, the Washington Democratic establishment and the Washington insiders in the pundit class,鈥� he said.
Van Hollen stressed how important winning in the fall is for the party. 鈥淲e need to win Michigan, he can win Michigan,鈥� the senator said, adding that El-Sayed鈥檚 鈥渂rand of populism can connect with voters across the political spectrum.鈥�
Stevens backs El-Sayed, pledges to support him vs. Mike Rogers
Haley Stevens said in a statement Wednesday that she is 鈥減roud to offer my support鈥� to Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan鈥檚 Democratic Senate primary.
Stevens said it鈥檚 important for Democrats to back him so the party can keep the Senate seat and win the chamber in the midterms.
鈥淒onald Trump and Mike Rogers want us to come out of this primary tired and divided, so their billionaire backers can come in and let multimillionaire Mike Rogers walk away with this Senate seat,鈥� she said.
Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary in major victory for Democrats鈥� progressive wing
El-Sayed鈥檚 defeat of Rep. Haley Stevens in a massive victory for the party鈥檚 progressive wing in a battleground state.
The real test of the progressives鈥� strength will now come in a November matchup against Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination. The seat is pivotal to Democrats鈥� chances of flipping the Senate and El-Sayed must now unite a divided Democratic base after a bruising primary.
The race remained tight throughout Tuesday night, with a winner not declared until early Wednesday. In his final remarks before the race was called, El-Sayed said 鈥渢omorrow we begin to mend fences.鈥�
El-Sayed campaign says Stevens conceded in Michigan Senate Democratic primary
Rep. Haley Stevens called Abdul El-Sayed to concede in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan on Wednesday morning, according to El-Sayed鈥檚 campaign.
A representative for Stevens鈥� campaign did not return a request for comment. The Associated Press has not yet called the race.
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Regional officials tell AP negotiators have finalized the draft of a Strait of Hormuz deal
The draft agreed to by Iranian and Omani negotiators awaits final approval from Iran鈥檚 supreme leader, two regional officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The officials, who were briefed on the negotiations, portrayed the potential deal as a temporary solution to the U.S.-Iranian dispute over shipping through the waterway. They said it is tied to in June that aimed to end the fighting and reopen the strait, which ultimately collapsed.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter, said the potential deal will pave the way for the U.S. and Iran to resume negotiations to reach a final deal on Tehran鈥檚 nuclear program.
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By Elena Becatoros, Samy Magdy and Darlene Superville
House Democrats add 12 solidly Trump districts to their midterm election target list
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has expanded its list of targets to 58 House seats it believes are competitive, including districts Trump won easily less than two years ago.
The ambitious list reflects Trump鈥檚 with the electorate and Democrats鈥� belief they can capitalize on voters鈥� frustrations over the economy, and the chaotic nature of Republican control during Trump鈥檚 second term.
鈥淢AGA Republicans who historically have considered themselves 鈥榮afe鈥� have let down the people they were elected to represent, passing disastrous policies that are crushing working families and our communities,鈥� DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement.
Democrats need just to erase Republicans鈥� narrow majority and control the chamber.
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Full Senate approval for Blanche is no sure thing
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche may have cleared committee but the outcome of a full Senate vote on his nomination for the permanent role is an open question. Republicans Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are question marks and Maine鈥檚 Susan Collins has said no, citing the politicization of the Justice Department.
The Judiciary Committee moved Trump鈥檚 former personal attorney along on a 12-10 party line vote after the DOJ confirmed in writing that it wasn鈥檛 moving forward with who believe they were politically persecuted. That order left in place Blanche鈥檚 tax immunity deal worth millions for Trump and his family.
If all Democrats oppose him and , Blanche can afford to lose just two Republican supporters.
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Ammo-carrying man arrested at Trump golf course made 鈥榗oncerning statements,鈥� authorities say
Authorities have released more details about the arrest of a man who was allegedly scoping out security details ahead of President Donald at Trump’s Los Angeles-area golf course.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff鈥檚 Department said 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele was seen taking photos and video and had a 16-round magazine with ammunition in his pocket when he was arrested Sunday. Federal prosecutors say he told federal agents he was employed by the State Department and was there for a security detail. A search of his pickup truck turned up a loaded 9mm pistol, binoculars and a badge that read 鈥渟ecurity protection agent.”
Authorities say a search of his home found a rifle and other firearms, magazines and ammunition, body armor and notebooks with 鈥渃oncerning statements.”
Taele was jailed on $250,000 bond after pleading not guilty to felonies including second-degree robbery, receiving a large-capacity magazine and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun. It wasn鈥檛 clear if he had a lawyer and family members could not immediately be reached for comment.
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