Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow primary victory over U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens for the Democratic Senate nomination relied on an overwhelming victory in Kent County. El-Sayed won every single precinct in the city of Grand Rapids, according to unofficial election results from Kent County, and took the county by 26 points.
That margin of more than 27,000 votes was larger than in any other county in the state, a difference-maker in a race where Stevens finished within 15,000 votes of victory statewide.
In Grand Rapids, where more than 25,000 of his votes came from, El-Sayed yard signs were a common sight in the lead up to the election. Stevens yard signs were few and far between.
El-Sayed held a rally in the DeVos Performance Hall with progressive politicians U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York in mid-July. The venue was packed, and city commissioners Lisa Knight and Marshall Kilgore endorsed the senatorial candidate while there.
Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties were Stevens’ bases of support, as were numerous rural counties. The four-term congresswoman garnered support from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, and Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand.
Educational attainment strongly correlated with voting patterns in this primary, as Stevens won all of the 15 counties with the lowest shares of bachelor’s degree holders. El-Sayed won all but two of the 15 most college-educated counties. Roughly 41% of Kent County residents aged 25 or older have a bachelor’s degree or higher, making it the eighth most-educated county in the state.
This tracks national trends, where progressive Democratic candidates have performed well with white, college-educated voters.
El-Sayed’s dominance in the greater Grand Rapids area was illustrated by a social media apology earlier this week, after Stevens hosted a private Democratic women’s event at Pux Cider Taphouse. The tap house, which shares a parking lot with the Kent County Democratic Party, posted an apology, claiming owners were unaware of the event’s connection to the sitting congresswoman. Ownership promised to make amends by donating the event profits to the Grand Rapids Pride Center.
“We are heartbroken as we pride ourselves on being not only a queer friendly space but also have advocated and continue to call for a free Palestine. We DO NOT endorse Haley Stevens,” the post stated.
Write to juliana@grherald.com