Takeaways from Tuesday’s elections: Democrats’ division on display in Michigan Senate race

Democrats confronted a stark divide between party tradition and a rising tide of progressive energy as voters in Michigan went to the polls on Tuesday.

The primary contest between U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and insurgent contender Abdul El-Sayed for the party’s Senate nomination is testing the swing state electorate’s willingness to abandon a time-tested strategy of going with moderate candidates in marquee races.

In a year when Democrats need to rack up as many wins as possible to take back the U.S. Senate, the party has little room for error against the Republican nominee, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.

Republicans are facing their own test in Michigan in the governor’s race. President Donald Trump’s handpicked candidate, U.S. Rep. John James, Is up against Perry Johnson, a wealthy, free-spending outsider.

More primaries were taking place in Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington. The contests will solidify November matchups, particularly in Virginia, where Democrats failed to redraw the state’s congressional map earlier this year.

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