Ocasio-Cortez’s backing of el Sayed comes after a swing of several midterm primaries showed momentum growing against the Democratic establishment, with voters in states such as New York and Colorado picking either socialist or anti-establishment challengers over mainstream Democrats. The move also bucks the primary goals of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), whose preferred candidate in the Michigan Senate race is the more centrist Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI).
“Despite our ideological differences and whatever disagreements there are in the party, every single one of us sees this moment as existential,” Ocasio-Cortez told the New York Times, who first reported the endorsement. “And I think many people are willing to put aside differences in order to give us the best chance at winning. And I think that Abdul gives us that right now.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s hometown of New York City just saw a sweeping midterm victory for socialist and leftist candidates of its own, each who rode the wave of momentum that Ocasio-Cortez-backed socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani established in 2025. U.S. House candidates running to represent different parts of New York City include Darializa Avila Chevalier, Brad Lander, and Claire Valdez, who all ousted incumbent or establishment-backed Democrats in a major blow to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
Coming off that momentum in her home state, Ocasio-Cortez’s backing of el Sayed also bucks the House and Senate Democratic leadership’s vision for the future of the chambers.
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In his leftist run for Senate, el Sayed has called for passing “Medicare for all,” emphasized that he has never taken money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and embraced the controversial left-wing social media personality Hasan Piker. He is also backed by other progressive Democrats, including Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
El Sayed is taking on Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow in the Democratic primary on Aug. 4. El Sayed has gained significant traction over the past several months amid a flurry of media attention, but polling remains close between the three Democratic candidates.
