Democrats try to present a united front in Michigan after bitter primary

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan Democrats on Friday urged voters to rally behind their statewide candidates, three days after a bitter U.S. Senate contest highlighted divisions between the progressive and moderate wings of the party.

A slate of nominees and other notable Democrats spoke to a crowd of more than 1,000 voters. The crowd cheered the loudest for Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official who narrowly beat establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in a contentious and closely watched primary for an open Senate seat.

“Michigan, we will fight to build the America we are proud to hand off to our kids and our grandkids,” El-Sayed said at a podium beneath a scoreboard in a Detroit high school gym.

With less than three months before the general election where El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers, the Democratic Party is under pressure to close ranks in a race that will help determine control of the Senate.

“In the spirit of coming together, I want to thank both of my colleagues who ran,” El-Sayed said. “Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow ran an incredible race.” McMorrow suspended her campaign in July.

Current Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ decision to not se...