Progressives Win Key Michigan and Kansas Democratic Primaries

Progressive candidates secured significant victories in Democratic primary elections on August 5, 2026, particularly in Michigan and Kansas. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed won a close Senate primary, defeating centrist Representative Haley Stevens despite substantial spending from pro-Israel lobby groups. Other progressive gains in Michigan included William Lawrence, who won the Democratic primary for the 7th District, and Donavan McKinney, who unseated incumbent Representative Shri Thanedar.

Many of these winners campaigned on curbing the expansion of data centers to protect water resources and electric grids. Lawrence and El-Sayed both advocated for moratoria on the facilities, while State Senator Cindy Holscher secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Kansas after shifting her platform to support a statewide moratorium on data centers.

These victories contrasted with progressive setbacks in other states. In Missouri, moderate Representative Wesley Bell defeated former Representative Cori Bush in a Democratic primary. Additionally, incumbent Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez won her primary in Washington state. Missouri voters also rejected a Republican-led effort to increase the threshold for passing citizen-sponsored constitutional amendments.

Republican nominations also progressed, with Representative John James securing the nomination for governor of Michigan and State Senator Ty Masterson winning in Kansas. While progressives pushed for regulation, Republican candidates like Masterson and Mike Rogers generally supported data center development or local autonomy in the matter.