DSA-Aligned Candidates Post Mixed Results in August 4 Primaries

Candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America recorded a mixed performance in Tuesday’s primaries across several states, securing a comfortable hold for one high-profile incumbent while falling short in a closely watched comeback bid and remaining competitive in another Detroit-area contest. In a significant progressive win, Abdul El-Sayed was projected the winner of the closely contested Michigan Democratic Senate primary over Rep. Haley Stevens.

In Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a longtime DSA member and member of the progressive “Squad,” won her Democratic primary decisively. With results showing her capturing roughly 64 to 74 percent of the vote against challengers Shanelle Jackson and Byron Nolen, Tlaib advanced easily in the solidly Democratic district that includes parts of Detroit and surrounding areas.

In neighboring Michigan’s 13th District, covering much of Detroit, state Rep. Donavan McKinney, a DSA member endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Tlaib, held a narrow lead over two-term incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar. Early and mid-evening returns showed McKinney ahead by approximately 3 percentage points, with vote shares hovering around 51 to 52 percent to Thanedar’s 48 percent as counting continued. The race remained too close to call in some tallies late into the night, representing a potential upset in a majority-Black district where McKinney had emphasized progressive priorities including expanded social programs and criticism of U.S. policy toward Israel.

Further south in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, centered on St. Louis, former Rep. Cori Bush’s attempt to reclaim the seat she lost in 2024 ended in defeat. Incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell prevailed with about 59 percent of the vote to Bush’s nearly 37 percent. Bush, a DSA-aligned progressive and former Squad member known for her strong criticism of Israel, had sought to capitalize on recent left-wing primary successes elsewhere. Bell, backed by significant outside spending including from pro-Israel groups, maintained strong support in the deep-blue district.

In the statewide Michigan Democratic Senate primary, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens. With nearly all votes counted, El-Sayed held a slim lead of roughly 48.5 to 47.5 percent. NBC News projected him the winner early Wednesday, and his campaign declared victory. The race, one of the most expensive Democratic Senate primaries on record, pitted El-Sayed’s progressive platform against the more establishment-backed Stevens and drew heavy outside spending. El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election.

Down-ballot races involving DSA-endorsed or aligned candidates in Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, and Washington produced varied early outcomes. Some state legislative and local contenders posted leads in partial returns, while others lagged. National DSA tracking indicated multiple contests still unresolved as of late evening, with a handful of losses already recorded among the day’s slate.

The August 4 results come after a series of earlier DSA-backed victories this cycle, including high-profile congressional upsets in New York and the ouster of a long-serving incumbent in Colorado. Those wins had fueled expectations of continued momentum for the organization’s candidates, particularly in urban, progressive-leaning districts. Tuesday’s outcomes demonstrated both the durability of established DSA figures like Tlaib and the limits of the current wave in certain rematches and competitive challenges, while El-Sayed’s Senate primary victory marked a notable progressive advance in a key battleground state.Final certification of outstanding races, including the tight Michigan 13th contest, will determine the full scope of the night’s gains and setbacks for DSA-aligned candidates heading into the November general elections.