Abdul El-Sayed defies $60 Million campaign against him, wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Despite massive spending by outside groups and high-profile endorsements for his opponent, Abdul El-Sayed secured a decisive Democratic Senate primary victory and now heads into a closely watched November showdown. Abdul El-Sayed has scored one of the most closely watched political upsets of the 2026 election cycle, defeating Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary despite facing more than $60 million in outside spending , much of it from pro-Israel political groups. The victory marks a significant breakthrough for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and sets up a high-stakes general election contest against Republican Mike Rogers in November. El-Sayed's campaign prevailed even after Stevens received late endorsements from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and influential national Democrats, including Representative James Clyburn . Those endorsements failed to reverse momentum behind El-S...
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Secretary Rubio’s Call with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Barzani

 U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT — U.S. SECRETARY RUBIO SPEAKS WITH KURDISTAN PM ON SECURITY, SUPPORT


By Kurdish Policy Analysis

ERBIL,Iraq March 27  – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone on Thursday with Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the semi‑autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq, in a call that underscored Washington’s support for Erbil amid escalating regional tensions, U.S. and Kurdish statements said.

Rubio “expressed condolences” for the recent deaths of Peshmerga fighters killed in a ballistic missile strike earlier this week, according to a State Department readout attributed to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott. He also reiterated U.S. support for the Kurdistan Region and its security forces at a time of heightened clashes involving Iranian‑linked groups.

In the call, the U.S. top diplomat “condemned” ongoing attacks by Iran and Iran‑aligned armed militias against U.S. citizens and energy infrastructure in Iraq, the department said. Rubio thanked the Kurdistan Regional Government for enabling Iraqi oil, including from the Kurdistan Region, to reach global markets, part of broader concerns over energy security and regional stability.

Barzani, whose government in Erbil administers the autonomous region under Iraq’s federal system, thanked Rubio for the outreach and reiterated the KRG’s appreciation for continued U.S. support “during this critical time,” the Kurdish statement said. The two also discussed the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad and economic challenges facing the region.

The conversation comes as the wider Middle East remains tense, with missile and drone strikes across Iraq and neighbouring countries tied to the ongoing confrontation between Iran and U.S. allies. Kurdistan has been caught up in some of the spillover violence, with pro‑Iranian factions blamed for multiple strikes on security and energy targets.

The U.S. engagement reflects Washington’s effort to reassure partners and protect strategic interests in Iraq, where Kurdish forces — the Peshmerga — have been key counter‑terrorism allies. No further details were immediately available from the State Department.

#Kurdistan #USPolitics #MarcoRubio #MasrourBarzani #MiddleEast #KRG #Iraq #Diplomacy #Security #EnergyCooperation


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