Progressive challenger unseats Michigan Democrat in key primary

Donavan McKinney, a 34-year-old state representative and democratic socialist backed by Bernie Sanders and Abdul El-Sayed, defeated incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar in Michigan's Democratic primary, signaling a win for the party's progressive wing in a Detroit-area seat. McKinney runs on Medicare for All and bold investments in housing and clean energy, while Thanedar has faced scrutiny over self-funded campaigns, cryptocurrency losses, and using taxpayer money for campaign-like TV ads; the victory underscores broader tensions between establishment Democrats and insurgent progressives across the country.