El-Sayed win kicks Democrats’ Midwest ideological battle into high gear — and some Dems fear November fallout

By Fox News · Fox News

The battle between the left-wing and the center-left establishment for the ideological future of the Democratic Party is staying put in the Midwest. After far-left candidate Abdul El-Sayed narrowly edged out more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens this week in battleground Michigan's high-stakes Democratic Senate primary, the spotlight now shifts to nomination showdowns next week in Wisconsin and Minnesota. At stake: a top-tier Senate showdown in Minnesota that's among a dozen races nationwide that will determine if the Democrats can win back control of the chamber from the GOP, and a gubernatorial face-off in crucial swing-state Wisconsin where Republicans are aiming to flip the governor's mansion. "Michigan proved that working people are ready for something different, and Wisconsin is next," Democratic candidate for governor Francesca Hong wrote following El-Sayed's victory. EL-SAYED'S VICTORY GIVES DEMOCRATS' LEFTWARD LURCH MORE LEGS Hong, a state representative and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member, is the polling frontrunner in a Democratic gubernatorial nomination showdown that's been rocked this summer after two major contenders dropped out and another candidate re-entered the race. The primary winner will likely face off in the general election with Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, the overwhelming polling and fundraising frontrunner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, in the race to succeed Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who decided against running for a third term. Hong, a former chef, is backed by top nationally known progressives, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Ro Khanna of California, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender. She is running on a platform that includes guaranteed paid leave and a one-year moratorium in Wisconsin on building AI data centers. Hong has faced scrutiny over years-old social media posts calling for defunding and abolishing the police. Hong says she no longer supports cutting police budgets or abolishing…