First Thing: Democrats look forward after progressive El-Sayed victory in Michigan

Abdul El-Sayed is latest leftwing candidate to capture nomination for November’s midterm elections. Plus: gender parity in Latin America’s city of cyclingGood morning.The progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic primary for the US Senate in Michigan. Despite many backing his opponent, Haley Stevens, in the race, leading Democrats are now uniting behind the former public health official with the goal of retaking control of the chamber in November’s midterm elections.What does El-Sayed’s victory mean for the Democratic party? Though a contentious general election, in a battleground state, awaits, his rise could serve as a revision to the political establishment’s prior playbook of requiring candidates to run from the center in swing-state politics.What do the Democrats need to retake the Senate? Republicans currently control the chamber with 53 lawmakers. The easiest path for Democrats to take back the Senate requires holding on to their seats in Michigan and Georgia while ousting Republicans from blue state Maine as well as three other red states.What was the vote? Schwartz was confirmed by a ⁠51-44 vote that broke largely along party lines, with Tim Kaine of Virginia the sole Democrat to support her nomination. Continue reading...