Abdul El-Sayed won backing from progressive leaders for Michigan’s 2026 Senate race. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez road out for him. They hailed it a pivotal test for progressive goals. Outlays from left-aligned outfits rose fast to help his campaign beat foes. At the same time, a major pro-Israel lobby group set a new spending high in the state to test its pull in Senate fights. Michigan voters also chewed over the age gap in the U.S. Senate. Some said El-Sayed’s fresh face stood out against older senators.