Steve Kornacki calls Decision Desk as Michigan primary counts stall

journalismAug 5, 202610016,869

NBC’s Steve Kornacki ran numbers repeatedly on the late Michigan returns and called the race for Abdul El-Sayed on Decision Desk as counts stalled, signaling a steeper path for Haley Stevens to catch up. NBC projected El-Sayed with about 685,600 votes and 89.7 percent of expected votes in and a roughly 2 percent lead over Stevens; Decision Desk HQ showed an estimate with El-Sayed at 663,329 votes (49.0 percent) and Stevens at 635,258 votes (47.0 percent) with about 87 percent reporting. Mallory McMorrow trailed in third with roughly 54,000 to 56,000 votes. Commentators noted intense late-night number-crunching on the so-called Kornacki Cam and that Kornacki pushed to stay on air until the call was made. National outlets and models tracked tightening margins, with a New York Times model showing El-Sayed up by about 1.4 points as returns shifted. The result drew attention because outside groups including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee had spent heavily to boost Stevens, with reporting that more than 30 million dollars targeted her campaign.

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑

@50501movement.bsky.social

It’s official: @abdulelsayed.bsky.social wins the Democratic Primary for Senate! The People Prevail Over Corporate Profits Once Again!

50501 BREAKING NEWS
MICHIGAN SENATE
ABDUL EL-SAYED (D)
WINS THE PRIMARY!
Source:
Steve Kornacki

No Kings!

915845d ago

@janettes-999.bsky.social42

Congratulations, Dr. El-Sayed! Now, prove those naysayers wrong. You can beat Mike Rogers in November! I am confident that you can! I’ve added you to the list of Senate challengers I plan to support and will donate to your campaign soon.

Leaf~30

Tragedy! Corporate Dems were just one (1) more ad buy away from victory 😔🕯️

bigvinny28

I guess this is the face AIPAC is making now.

steve3797.bsky.social25

.. Prepare for the barrage of LIES about how the "communists" are taking over ...

Overdone24

The msn is not so subtly laying down groundwork that the Democratic party is fractured. STOP IT. The oligarchs are at it full-time planting seeds, doubts. Don't let them. This is most important that we stick together for #Midterms. Don't give them what they want. United we win. #Resistance

Institute Of Arcane Axioms17

I can't decide if I want to stay up and wait for 99% of the votes. Probably not worth it.

Quoting this

Nikki 'Samyazan Scion' Ophan97

haley stevens 10 seconds after the mossad shows up to her door today asking what happened to that $60 million AIPAC gave her

Sara Margarita Medina Ramos4

The People vs Corporations... We win when we vote

Clean Observer2

This is a stupid message. Come on.

David Bealer 🗽🇺🇸🐸🚫👑2

Congratulations to Michigan, they made the right choice! Now let's make sure he wins the race this November!

Election_Every2

WHY HASN'T @ms.now CALLED Abdul El-Sayed THE WINNER?

Wajahat Ali

@wajali.bsky.social

LOL. Abdul El-Sayed WON the Democratic Primary in Michigan despite being outspent 10-1! Amazing gaslighting here.

321845d ago

Will Pullinen95

Yup. Cause if Stevens had won, even if it was by just 0.1 percent, they'd be declaring it a decisive rejection of the populist left. They have no shame.

Billie Jean Sweeney59

Lmao at this line from Politico re progressives … “‘These guys are unbelievably cocky,’ said a Democratic operative granted anonymity to speak candidly.” This is the kind of dishonest, out-of-touch political reporting that keeps enabling Trump and legitimising bogus supposed centrists.

Randi Mayem Singer54

It was crazy listening to her "speech" and then his. Thank gawd.

WhatRWeDoingHere39

Trump won by 1.5 percentage points in 2024, and this isn't how Politico handled his win.

Texas Kate33

Welp, we knew they’d move the goal posts…we knew they’d immediately claim, it’s not really a msg for the Dems to get their ish together b/c it’s not a double digit win…yet, we also know if it were Haley who won, they’d be claiming it’s a clear victory & msg to the Left to give up on this mvmnt

These aren’t political🌲🌊💨🐻🐺They're necessary🌱29

Weird, listening to pundits discussing El-Sayed's 'distance' from what the D party wants after his speech. I listened to it, and my thought was--that's what the D party is supposed to be. He was inclusive and responsive, unifying & clear-eyed. What were they listening to??

Quoting this

Randi Mayem Singer66

It was crazy listening to her "speech" and then his. Thank gawd.

DavidP7

I'm done with Politico This is an insane take on an incredible win which I believe will be good for Michigan and good for the D party Get rid of Chuck Schumer and any other D Senator that is more committed to preserving the status quo than moving the bar

spaghootighost2

Can you imagine a candidate so bad that spending record-breaking sums, more than 10x the amount of your opponent, and also having your entire party apparatus rally around you is still not enough? Stevens is a historically bad candidate, and her backers are fools at best.

JakeForeverRandom ♾️2

They have the money but we have the people. The movement only grows from here!

Jackspryte 🏳️‍⚧️🇮🇸 🇨🇦 ✊ 🇺🇦🇵🇸2

This is what Gaslighting looks like in the media today. He won very obviously and clearly and yet the media reports it tepidly and only talks about the necessity to move right to govern. They are so wrong.

Teri Goodson. 🚨🆘🇺🇲🆘🚨2

On to the general election. From what I've been reading, progressives aren't nearly so popular with independents, but we shall see.

Sahil Kapur

@sahilkapur.bsky.social

🚨🚨 Abdul El Sayed wins the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, NBC News projects. He defeats Haley Stevens.

94545d ago

Sahil Kapur77

Abdul El-Sayed wins the Michigan Senate primary. Mallory McMorrow has more votes than his margin of victory over Haley Stevens with over 90% counted.

justvisiting74.bsky.social12

It's a good day. End the consultant lobby. Time for an opposition party.

Freedom2B1

I am waiting for AP.

augustadsays.bsky.social1

He overcame a 7 to 1 funding advantage and that is great, but I read that he has work to do with the black population, something I do not understand at all because I think they have the same needs as everyone else. But if they are not happy, there must be a reason that it does not make sense to hide

Quoting this

Thembo103

okay this seems likely to hold so going to bed. Goodnight, better things are possible!

Stan Oklobdzija31

Really hard to comprehend how the current Israeli government pissed away every drop of good will it had post 10/7 until cutting off military aid to their country became an issue that decided a primary election less than 3 years later.

Dr Seán DOOLAN 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇪10

Oh, no! A doctor with an Oxford DPhil in public health is the Democrat nominee to run as Senator for Michigan. Y'mean sane, informed positions might contend for political influence to push back against RFK Jr and his cranks? And he's Muslim, calls attacks on Gaza what they are, and supports unions.

Lejla 🍉🇩🇰🇪🇺9

No, he defeated, #AIPAC The people of Michigan took a stand and the stand was, no more AIPAC.

Daniel Sugarman8

Not surprised. It's the season of awful candidates winning Dem primaries.

alessandro fillari7

AIPAC spent over $60 million on this race to sink El-Sayed's campaign, and it failed. This is a great win, I'm so happy.

Thomas (he/they) 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️7

Democratic Socialist takeover of the US! LFG!

Eric Budd4

word. currently 49-47 but rapidly running out of votes for Stevens to make up ground

Walker Bragman

@walkerbragman.bsky.social

NBC projects El-Sayed the winner of the Michigan Senate primary! www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

60645d ago

Walker Bragman198

This is a fucking rout for AIPAC and the Israel lobby. It’s a significant defeat for the Democratic Party’s centrist wing.

Ernest Penfold6

LOL AIPAC BTFO they wasted their money!

CraftyMe251

Watching CNN live and they haven’t called it yet. They’re portraying it as a “tight” primary.

Loops1

Why were the polls so wrong? By 10 points? Something does not add up.

Boxo McFoxo1

An irresponsibly early call. I really hope they haven't called it wrong!

Quoting this

Micah755

okay team we won you can go to bed

Erin Biba235

Thank fucking god y’all did not fucking elect another fucking antisemite who uses Jews as a tool to manipulate people and tries to speak for us while simultaneously reinforcing deadly stereotypes about us. Hopefully this is a sign y’all will stop falling for that shit.

K.B. Spangler74

Holy dogshit I am not looking forward to the next few news cycles.

Jesus Lizard Superstar 🖤 🐀🐀🐀12

thooot thooot thooot [airhorn noises]

Conrail Twitty10

I’m almost unable to relax about this, like is it real? Could it BE? 🙏

Burnt Texas Toast®10

Proof that grassroots people power can overcome being outspent 10-to-1 by the establishment donor class. You just need to have the fortitude to organize and do the ground work instead of expecting to coast along on PAC money and the donor class. LET'S GO!

logan, hater club CEO9

$70 million and nothing to show for it Stings, a bit

Zack Ford7

Not just in east coast cities!

Ryan6

SIXTY MILLION AND FOR WHAT

Dalla$5

MICHIGAN COMES TO ME IN MY DREAMS

NY Times Pitchbot

@nytpitchbot.bsky.social

Analysis | Whether Haley Stevens or Abdul El-Sayed prevails in the Michigan primary, it’s a disaster for Democrats.

39944d ago

Frank Galton8

In this Kalamazoo diner, Abdul means Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, not the victorious US Senate primary candidate. But they do know this: stars need to play better defense in the playoffs than in the regular season.

B Wright7

Yes, but JD Vance called him President Abdul El-Sayed

Kim Jong Deux3

Here's why that's bad news for Greta Thunberg.

Carl Feher1

Everyone inside every department of the government is busy throwing everyone else under the bus and why that’s Joe Biden’s fault.

Deet Wise1

El-Sayed has only given one press conference in 24 hours.

rockyredbeard.bsky.social1

El-Sayed for President 2028!!!! USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!

Qasim Rashid, Esq.

@qasimrashid.com

Last night, 41-year-old Dr. Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed won the Democratic primary for US Senate in Michigan. What he overcame is not just politically significant. It is historic. And we must understand why so we can duplicate it nationwide. My latest: www.qasimrashid.com/p/dr-abdul-e...

22544d ago

paul-NewEngland6

Win or lose come Nov., El-Sayed represents candidates of the future. US capitalism has run its course. Few handfuls of billionaires and 300 million working class one hospital stay from bankruptcy. At some point we must do better. Must.

Quoting this

Simon Rosenberg79

"understand this, Abdul won not despite his values. Because of them."

Randy Fair62

“When we fight for working people without apology, when we reject corporate money without hesitation, when we name injustice without equivocation—we win.” Qasim Rashid

Raging Loons Resistance Group49

Easily duplicated. Keep talking about Health care Affordable housing Real wages Education Child care Stop corporate greed

Jenny Takeda44

Yes! People are ready for bold leaders who stand up for their communities. “Abdul’s win exemplifies the possibilities of running for something—a unified country, a working class coalition, a big tent built on dignity—rather than running on a politics of hate and division and culture wars.”

talia jane

@taliajane.bsky.social

NBC is calling the Michigan Senate primary for Abdul El-Sayed as the projected winner with 685,600 votes and 89.7% of expected votes in and a 2% lead over Haley Stevens’ 657,905 votes. Mallory McMorrow finishes in a distant third with 55,878 votes.

24645d ago

talia jane92

Fox News is in denial lol

John C. Catsluck11

$60,000,000 well spent. Have a great night!

Quoting this

Nadia Zaboura19

And here we go. If true, this is set out to be a major turn, possibly a watershed moment for US Democrats: Big money in politics, pro establishment orientation and unconditional spending towards foreign countries and forever wars are turning into a clear political liability.

Juan Cole12

Michiganders can't be bought for $30 mn

Devon Delaitre 🐮 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈7

Oh. Common sense is back on the menu.

emily5

Vote blue no matter who! 😉✨

Barrista

@onbluskysku.bsky.social

If there weren't a flurry of polls right ahead of the primary this would be seen as a political coup across Michigan for McKinney, Lawrence, and El Sayed to all win

21445d ago

Quoting this

Tim15

Remember: we hate polls. We hate data boys. (I'm a data boy I can say this)

Jen-of-Λrc

@jen-of-arc.bsky.social

That was 🔥 Thank you sooo much for going Live! I was on a complete high & that was just what I needed. Here’s when NBC’s Steve Kornacki called it for Abdul El-Sayed…. Whoohoo

14945d ago

smithjohnny.bsky.social2

A $60M campaign to defeat him failed! AIPAC needs to recess their position. Thanks Bibi.

Guy Smiley2

Big win! Chuck Schumer has the WORST political instincts.

Paul Tighe1

Will Stevens claim the election was stolen?

KUNA1

same energy, but also - what's next? we can't get complacent now

Cameron 🇺🇸🗽🦅

@cameroncorduroy.bsky.social

internet posters will be fighting in the Michigan primary trenches all the way to November and beyond meanwhile the actual candidates ten nanoseconds after polls close:

14344d ago

Ragnarok Lobster

@eclecticbrotha1.bsky.social

Now that the extremely tight race has finally been called, I'm amused at how quickly people have pivoted into brow beating mode to shame everyone into falling in line behind the Michigan primary winner.

9644d ago

uosdɯᴉS ɐuɐꓷ 🦄44

It’s fun how they immediately start sneering “you said blue no matter who, so you have to vote for him.” Yes, we know, we never suggested we wouldn’t. They want us to act owned so badly. It’s like the whole point of this for them. So when we don’t, they just pretend we did and high five each other

Jay Robertson26

Something tells me that if *she* won by 1 point the kumbaya would NOT be forthcoming 😗

Charles Gaba ✡️21

I mean, I've stated that *I'll* vote for him & even added him to my fundraising page, but that's it. I'm not gonna beg or cajole or shame anyone else into voting for him. If they choose to, fine; if not, so be it.

R. S. Martin19

I'll vote for the guy in November, but only because he's the Democratic nominee. But he's going to need some serious course correction, particularly with Black voters, if he wants to win. Unfortunately, I don't think he's going to be able to get over himself enough to do that.

His Bark Materials🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🌌17

Literally the entire Democratic party, including Stevens, is in the process of endorsing El-Sayed. You /should/ be ashamed if you’re getting beaten to the punch here by Charles Entertainment Schumer.

Always Jae 🌈15

Im telling you... This will be a Talarico 2.0 situation if he doesnt get his more rabid degenerate fans in line. Biggest tell is if he appears with Piker again. If that happens...he loses...flat out.

Charge 🔺

@chargecoyote.bsky.social

How I feel listening to Steve Kornacki and CNN while reading vote dumps on AP and scrolling bluesky all at once for a primary race in a state I don’t live in

10745d ago

A. Marmot 🌱

@aminus.bsky.social

I can now confidently predict @abdulelsayed.bsky.social will win the Michigan Primary. (because he just did!)

11045d ago

A. Marmot 🌱19

they're saying Marmot's post-election predictions are unbeatable, the best out there

The Giant Aquatic Centipede2

Cue FOX going full Chicken Little. 😱😂

Eric Michael Garcia

@ericmgarcia.bsky.social

Per Ellis Bates at @votehub.com: Abdul El-Sayed is netting more votes in Dearborn in the primary than Kamala Harris received in 2024 El-Sayed 2026 primary: 15,899 votes Kamala Harris in 2024: 15,208 votehub.com/2026_mi_sen_...

8645d ago

Quoting this

𝕴𝖓𝖋𝖊𝖗𝖓𝖆𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖝 𝕾𝖔𝖕𝖍𝖎𝖆20

"There's nothing she could've done to run a better campaign."

Joe Adalian

@tvmojoe.bsky.social

Pretty clear watching the Kornacki Cam that NBC News is telling him he needs to wrap up (guessing by 2 am ET), but Steve is begging them to let him stay on until the race is called. Give the people what they want, NBC!

8645d ago