Progressive Senate candidates win primaries despite ad outspends

Several progressive Senate candidates won their primaries even when rivals and outside groups outspent them on ads: in Massachusetts, Ed Markey beat Seth Moulton despite Moulton’s roughly 7:1 ad spend lead; in Michigan, Abdul El‑Sayed defeated Haley Stevens even after Stevens saw about $31.3 million in ads to El‑Sayed’s $6.6 million; in Minnesota, Peggy Flanagan won as Angie Craig spent far more on ads; and in Florida, democratic socialist Angie Nixon upset Alex Vindman with Nixon spending about $66,000 versus nearly $2.2 million for Vindman, underscoring that money isn’t always decisive in these contests. The piece also notes broader primary closeness for incumbents and heavy spending by pro‑Trump groups as midterms approach, signaling ongoing debates over the role of ads in shaping outcomes.