From Michigan to Missouri: Democratic primaries deliver mixed bag on Israel and Gaza

Voters went to the polls across five US states on Tuesday for a series of closely watched Democratic and Republican primaries.

The races in Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia and Washington were not all solely focused on foreign policy, but the US-Israeli war on Iran and Israel's genocide in Gaza loomed large.

The primaries delivered a muddled verdict on how Democratic voters respond to politicians' positions on the issues. 

Michigan produced the evening’s defining result with former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed defeated Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary for the open Senate seat by roughly one percentage point, 48.5 percent to 47.5 percent. 

El-Sayed staked out a progressive position on healthcare, but he also put immigration and US foreign policy at the centre of his campaign.

He promised to vote to end US military aid to Israel, abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and work to end the Trump administration’s war on Iran, which he argued imperils Americans through the risk of regional war without congressional authorisation. 

Stevens' campaign, by contrast, championed Israel's right to self-defence and supported continued US taxpayer aid.

She received firm backing from Democratic establishment figures and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as Aipac. Stevens also staked out a hawkish position on Iran. 

El-Sayed's stance resonated with Wayne County's large Arab American and Muslim electorate. The county includes Dearborn, Hamtramck, and the city of Detroit. Trump made inroads with Wayne County in the 2024 election, including an endorsement from Hamtramck's Yemeni-American mayor.

Missouri: Democratic establishment prevails 

Former St Louis County prosecutor and incumbent Congressman Wesley Bell defeated former Democratic Congresswoman Cori Bush by 59.2 percent to 36.9 percent in the primary, denying Bush a re-entry to Congress after her defeat for the same seat in 2024. 

Bush was one of Congress’ outspoken advocates for a ceasefire in Gaza. She made the genocide in the enclave and the US war on Iran central pillars of her campaign. 

Bell advocated ironclad support for Israel and was backed by Aipac. 

Kansas: Gazing towards November

The Democrats of Kansas nominated state Senator Cindy Holscher for governor, while Republicans chose state Senate President Ty Masterson, setting up one of the country's most closely watched gubernatorial contests in a state where Republicans have dominated statewide politics for decades.

Unlike Michigan, foreign policy held little weight in the primary campaign.

Candidates focused on rural development, agriculture, and abortion.

Virginia: Senator tied to intelligence committee wins

The sole candidate in Virginia’s Democratic primary was former Governor and incumbent Senator Mark Warner, who emphasised his tenure on the Senate Intelligence Committee and attention to national security.

Warner is a staunch advocate for Israel and has received support from Aipac. 

Republicans chose former Trump campaign advisor and retired Army Major General Bert Mizusawa in a multi-candidate race.

Warner criticised the absence of congressional consultation surrounding the Trump administration's war on Iran while stating that Iran's nuclear programme presents a significant security threat. 

Virginia has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 2002. 

Washington: Establishment wins again

In Washington, Democratic Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez fended off a challenge from progressive Brent Hennrich. 

Gluesenkamp Perez was endorsed by Aipac while Hennrich campaigned as a Democrat opposed to the group.