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First polls close as socialist insurgents eye Midwest gains in Dem civil war
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The polls are now closed in Kansas, Missouri, and most of Michigan, three of the five states from coast-to-coast holding primary elections on Tuesday.
The biggest spotlight is on Michigan, where the high-stakes fight between the left-wing and the center-left establishment for the future of the Democratic Party is front-and-center.
Boosted by a string of victories this spring in mostly blue congressional districts across the country, the Democrats’ ideological war moves to the Great Lakes battleground state, where progressive victories could reshape the party and endanger must-hold seats in the midterm elections.
Also at stake as Michigan, Kansas, Missouri join Virginia and Washington State in holding mid-summer primaries is President Donald Trump’s immense clout over the GOP and the power of his endorsements in Republican nominating contests.
But taking top billing is Michigan’s divisive and expensive Democratic Senate primary, which is seen as the biggest stage to date in the fierce fight for the future of the Democratic Party.
THE MIDTERM SENATE RACES THAT COULD FLIP THE BALANCE OF POWER IN CONGRESS
«This is ground zero in the battle for the future of the Democratic Party, pitting status quo corporate Democrats against shake up the system economic fighters, and we’ll see who wins,» Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), a leading group on the left, told Fox News Digital.
The primary face-off pits Abdul El-Sayed, a former Wayne County Health Department director, against Rep. Haley Stevens, a more moderate candidate backed by the establishment. The race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who is backing Stevens, is a must-hold for the Democrats and one of roughly a dozen Senate races from coast to coast that will determine if Republicans hold onto their slim Senate majority.
Matt Bennett, one of the leaders at the Third Way, a leading center-left Democratic organization, told Fox News Digital the Michigan showdown is «the first time the left is competing for a swing seat» and warned, «the significance is it could really put this seat in jeopardy.»
El-Sayed, who, if elected, would make history as the nation’s first Muslim senator, is an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018. He has made support for «Medicare-for-all» a major component of his campaign.
The far-left candidate has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is a vocal critic of Israel amid its war with Hamas — even characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as «genocide» against Palestinians.
MIKE ROGERS ARGUES ABDUL EL-SAYED IS ‘A SPECIAL SAUCE OF CRAZY’
Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, speaks to supporters at a campaign event on Aug. 2, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
And El-Sayed, who is backed by top far-left leaders and teamed with progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York on the Michigan campaign trail two weeks ago, and who served as a top surrogate on Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, has vowed not to accept PAC donations.
Stevens, who flipped a GOP-held district in her 2018 election to Congress, is backed by top national and Michigan Democrats, including Peters, term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and longtime Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer.
Schumer and the party establishment view Stevens as more electable than El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his past comments.
«I am the best Democrat to go forward. I am the only person in this race who has won tough primaries multiple times. You know, running with the Michigan grit, resilience and determination,» Stevens told Fox News Digital on Sunday, as she teamed up with Peters on the campaign trail.
DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB
Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan, right, and retiring Sen. Gary Peters, at a campaign rally on Aug. 2, 2026, in Madison Heights, Michigan. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
Over $80 million has been spent on the primary showdown, making it the most expensive Democratic Senate nomination race in history. Much of the money has been shelled out by outside groups in support of Stevens and against El-Sayed. The biggest spending comes from United Democracy Project, a political action committee aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
El-Sayed, who has repeatedly attacked Stevens over the massive infusion of AIPAC-linked money, told reporters on Sunday, «If you need $70 million to come in here and help get you elected, then the question has to be, are you actually electable on your own terms.»
The winner will face off in the midterms against former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is on a glidepath to win the GOP Senate nomination.
The Trump-backed Rogers, who lost the 2024 Senate election in Michigan by a razor-thin margin, said in a Fox News Digital interview that he doesn’t care whom he faces off with in November.
«It doesn’t matter to us. We’ve looked at both candidates. We feel confident we’re going to beat either one of those candidates that come out of that race,» Rogers highlighted.
And Rogers claimed, «They are very radical, and they are way too extreme for Michigan. I mean, Abdul, he has his own special sauce of crazy.»
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But Democrats are confident they can regroup after a combustible primary.
«Let’s make sure that anyone but Mike Rogers gets to the United States Senate,» Stevens told reporters on Sunday. «After the primary, you’re going to see a united Democratic Party. You are going to see us going full force, full fledged ahead.»
And El-Sayed told Fox News Digital, «I think we all understand the risk of Donald Trump. We all understand the risk of Mike Rogers.»
The left-wing versus establishment battle is also playing out in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, a key Republican-controlled swing seat race that’s among roughly two-dozen that will impact whether the GOP holds onto its fragile House majority.
William Lawrence, a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, which advocates for political action to tackle climate change, is on the rise against two more moderate Democrats. Lawrence is backed by Sanders and El-Sayed, as well as some top progressive groups. The primary winner will face GOP Rep. Tom Barrett in the general election.
The party civil war is also on display in Michigan’s deep blue 13th Congressional District.
MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS
Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney rallied over the weekend in his bid to unseat Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., on Aug. 2, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News Digital)
Rep. Shri Thanedar, who is supported by top House Democratic leaders, is being challenged by state Rep. Donovan McKinney, who is backed by Sanders, El-Sayed, and «Squad» members Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania.
And the ideological warfare is also front-and-center in Missouri, in the state’s St. Louis-based and heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District.
Rep. Wesley Bell is facing off in a rematch against former Rep. Cori Bush, a Squad member who Bell ousted in the 2024 primary.
Former Rep. Cori Bush is mounting a comeback bid to retake her seat in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)
Trump’s endorsements are getting tested in two statewide showdowns on Tuesday, in Michigan and Kansas.
The president is backing Rep. John James in Michigan’s GOP gubernatorial primary. James, a West Point graduate and one-time Republican rising star, is facing off against multi-millionaire businessman Perry Johnson, a former gubernatorial and presidential candidate.
The winner will take on likely Democratic nominee and current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, in the race to succeed Whitmer.
In Kansas, Trump is supporting state Senate President Ty Masterson in a crowded field of Republican gubernatorial contenders.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited, which makes the race to succeed her a top flip opportunity for the GOP.
In Washington State, the marquee primary showdown is in the state’s 3rd Congressional District, where Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a former auto shop co-owner, is facing a crowded field of challengers from both parties.
Washington state has a top-two primary system in which all candidates, regardless of party, compete on the same ballot and the two highest vote-getters move on to the general election.
The race is another crucial House showdown that may decide the chamber’s majority.
In Virginia, voters head to the polls to cast ballots in Senate primaries and in a handful of House primaries in extremely competitive districts that may impact the balance of power on Capitol Hill.
bernie sanders, state and local primaries, michigan, midterm elections, donald trump, democrats elections, republicans
INTERNACIONAL
Crowded Russian beach descends into chaos after alleged Ukrainian drone incident kills 7, including 4 children
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Vacationers were sent scrambling for safety Monday after a projectile struck a crowded beach in a Russian Black Sea resort town, killing seven people, including four children, and injuring dozens more, officials said.
Video footage captured the incident in the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka near Gelendzhik, where the beach was packed with visitors at the time of the strike.
The Russian Mission in Geneva said in a post on X that the «bloody attack» was carried out by a drone launched by Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of targeting civilians.
UKRAINE LAUNCHES WHAT APPEARS TO BE ONE OF ITS LARGEST DRONE ATTACKS AGAINST RUSSIA: REPORT
A projectile flies overhead near Arkhipo-Osipovka, Russia, on Monday. (Social media via Reuters)
«The attack targeted civilian infrastructure. Emergency and special services are working at the crash site,» regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev said in a post on Telegram.
«What happened today is a targeted attack by the Kyiv regime against civilians who have no connection to the military infrastructure. This cynical and inhumane terrorist attack against children cannot be justified.»
UKRAINE UNLEASHES MORE THAN 400 DRONES NEAR MOSCOW IN ONE OF WAR’S BIGGEST ATTACKS
A fiery explosion rocks a Black Sea beach resort in Russia on Monday. (Social media via Reuters)
Andriy Kovalenko, an officer with Ukraine’s Defense Forces, disputed Russia’s account, saying the deaths were directly caused by Russian air defenses that intercepted a drone, sending debris onto the beach.
«Russian air defense shot down a drone over people lying on the beach,» Kovalenko said on Telegram.
In the video, sounds resembling gunfire were heard just seconds before a drone struck the beach, causing a fireball explosion that sent bystanders screaming. As the gunfire was heard, the drone appeared to veer sharply before diving toward the beach.
Preliminary Russian reports also found that several of the deaths were caused by «falling drone debris,» Kondratyev said.
ZELENSKYY SAYS PUTIN ‘LOST THE INITIATIVE’ AS UKRAINE’S TECH INDUSTRY RESHAPES THE WAR
In another Telegram post, Kovalenko indicated that Ukraine uses its weapons against Russian military-industrial infrastructure to affect Moscow’s ability to finance the war.
He further accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of creating an «illusion» that Russia would remain safe from the war by downplaying daily explosions as falling debris, limiting air raid warnings, and positioning air defenses near populated areas such as the Black Sea resort.
Smoke rises after a deadly blast along a Russian resort beach on Monday. (Social media via Reuters)
«Putin deliberately killed these people. Because if he had not started the war and struck Ukraine, they would be alive,» Kovalenko said.
«It was Putin, his air defense, who killed these Russians. His decisions in response to their decisions launched a chain of death for Russians.»
russia, conflicts, ukraine, wars
INTERNACIONAL
Trump blasts Democratic socialist candidate as ‘full of s—‘ and Dems are skipping socialism ‘for communism’
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President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed Wednesday, singling out the progressive candidate as «full of s—» while arguing Democrats are embracing communism.
The remarks came hours after El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democrat Senate primary, winning by less than one percentage point after The Associated Press called the race early Wednesday.
He will face Republican Mike Rogers in November for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
Trump devoted several minutes of his Las Vegas speech to attacking democratic socialist candidates, arguing they are advancing communist ideas and calling communism «the greatest threat» facing the United States.
SOCIALIST SURGE: FAR-LEFT DEMOCRATS TEST NATIONAL PLAYBOOK AFTER BLUE-CITY PRIMARY SHOCKS
President Donald Trump speaks during an event in Las Vegas on Wednesday. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«These people are dangerous and frankly, they are lunatics. They’re crazy, and we can’t let them get into office,» Trump said. «Communism is the greatest threat to our country in its history, including even World War One, World War Two, Pearl Harbor, 9/11. I think it’s the greatest threat.»
The White House later amplified that portion of Trump’s remarks on social media, posting simply: «Communism is the greatest threat to our country.»
Trump mocked what he said communist policies would mean for Americans.
«Would you like a free house? We’ll take one from your neighbor. Would you like free rent? We’ll take it from whoever. We’ll take your building away from the landlord,» Trump said. «What they don’t say, and what Republicans should say, is that at the end of the year, you’ll have nothing but death, squalor, poverty. You’ll have a life of hell.»
LIZ PEEK: MICHIGAN CAN STOP THE SOCIALIST FEVER RAGE — OR WATCH IT SWALLOW THE SENATE
FILE – U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary candidate Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, greet the crowd after El-Sayed spoke at The People V. The Powerful rally at the Detroit Opera House on July 18, 2026 in Detroit, Mich. He was recently endorsed by Michigan Democratic Sen. Tina Smith. (Sarah Rice/Getty Images, File)
The president pointed to Venezuela as an example of what he said happens when communist policies take hold.
«Look at Venezuela, where it was such a rich country 20 years ago,» Trump said. «Every time this has happened, you go through squalor … filth, crime, death, destruction, embarrassment. You lose your home. You lose your apartment.»
Trump then singled out El-Sayed by name, drawing one of the loudest reactions of the night.
«When I watch Abdul, he’s full of s—,» Trump said.
2026 MIDTERMS STATE OF PLAY: KEY RACES UNFOLD AS STEVENS, EL-SAYED BATTLE IN MICHIGAN
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, films a social media video at a pool party for content creators supporting his campaign, Monday, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
El-Sayed’s victory gives Democrats a progressive nominee in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races. Backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., El-Sayed campaigned on Medicare for All, getting money out of politics and ending U.S. military aid to Israel.
He has described himself as a capitalist and has distanced himself from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), though Republicans have frequently tied him to the broader democratic socialist movement.
Trump later returned to a familiar theme from the second term of his presidency.
«If you remember, during my State of the Union speech, I made a very strong statement. I said that America will never be a socialist country,» Trump said. «I was right.»
The president argued Democrats now want to move beyond socialism.
TRUMP HAILS AMERICA AS ‘MOST EXCEPTIONAL NATION EVER TO EXIST’ IN MOUNT RUSHMORE SPEECH
President Donald Trump introduces a family who has benefited from the «no tax on tips» policy during an event at Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas on Wednesday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
«What I didn’t say is what they’re trying to do. They want to skip socialism. They want to go right down to the bottom of the barrel. That’s communism,» Trump said. «They want it to be a communist country. We’re not letting them have it as a communist country, not even for a minute.»
Trump closed by vowing to defeat what he called the Democrat Party’s leftward movement.
«Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America once and for all,» Trump said. «It’s defeated. It’s going to go down. It always goes down.»
The White House and El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller, Kiera McDonald, and Robert Schmad contributed to this reporting.
donald trump, democrats senate, the squad, bernie sanders, politics, midterm elections, michigan
INTERNACIONAL
Permisos de construcción se disparan un 21% en Costa Rica y apuntan al mejor año del sector desde la pandemia
La construcción mantiene un ritmo acelerado en Costa Rica. Los permisos tramitados durante el primer semestre de 2026 registraron un incremento del 21% en comparación con el mismo período de 2025, una señal que apunta a un fuerte crecimiento de la inversión y a un cierre de año con cifras históricas para el sector.
Los datos fueron presentados este martes durante la conferencia de prensa del Gobierno por el Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y de Arquitectos (CFIA), entidad que indicó que entre enero y junio se registró una intención de construcción de 5,7 millones de metros cuadrados, uno de los volúmenes más altos de los últimos años.
El director ejecutivo del CFIA, Javier Chacón, explicó que la cifra refleja los proyectos inscritos antes del inicio de las obras, por lo que constituye un indicador adelantado del comportamiento que tendrá el sector durante los próximos meses.
“El Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos registra para este primer semestre del año 2026 un incremento del 21% en la intención de construcción. Si las condiciones se mantienen como hasta ahora, podríamos esperar un cierre del año cercano a los 10,5 millones de metros cuadrados”, señaló.
La proyección supera ampliamente las estimaciones iniciales del propio Colegio, que al inicio del año esperaba un crecimiento cercano al 1%.
El repunte no se concentra únicamente en la Gran Área Metropolitana.
Según el CFIA, las provincias que mostraron el mayor crecimiento fueron Limón, Heredia y Puntarenas, impulsadas por distintos tipos de inversión pública y privada.
En Heredia, el mayor dinamismo corresponde al sector industrial, donde aumentó la construcción de nuevas bodegas y la ampliación de parques industriales, especialmente en el distrito de Ulloa.
En Puntarenas, el comportamiento responde, en gran medida, a las inversiones estatales en infraestructura desarrolladas en la zona sur del país.
Mientras tanto, en Limón, el crecimiento está asociado tanto a proyectos privados como a iniciativas vinculadas con el desarrollo logístico y turístico.
El CFIA destacó, entre otros factores, la actividad alrededor de la Terminal de Contenedores de Moín administrada por APM Terminals y los proyectos relacionados con la futura marina.
Las obras industriales fueron las que experimentaron el mayor crecimiento durante el semestre.
De acuerdo con el informe, la construcción de nuevas naves industriales, así como remodelaciones y ampliaciones de instalaciones existentes, aumentó 68.9% respecto al año anterior.
También sobresale el crecimiento de la obra urbanística, que registró un incremento del 40.4%, impulsado por proyectos de carreteras, urbanizaciones y condominios.
Los cantones de Alajuela, Heredia y Santa Cruz aparecen entre los que reportan la mayor cantidad de metros cuadrados destinados a este tipo de desarrollos.
En Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, el comportamiento estuvo marcado por el aumento en la construcción de viviendas y condominios residenciales.
El Colegio considera que las condiciones actuales permiten prever un segundo semestre igualmente positivo para la industria.
El vicepresidente de la República, Francisco Gamboa, afirmó que el desempeño del sector confirma el buen momento que, a criterio del Ejecutivo, atraviesa la economía nacional.
El jerarca destacó que el crecimiento del 21% en los permisos de construcción coincide con el aumento del 10% registrado recientemente en la producción del sector, una cifra que, según dijo, prácticamente triplica el crecimiento general de la economía.
“Al sector construcción, que es un gran indicador de la marcha de la economía, le está yendo muy bien”, manifestó.
Gamboa aprovechó además para defender la estrategia económica del Gobierno y reiteró el concepto de la llamada “economía jaguar”, utilizado por la Administración para describir el comportamiento del país en los últimos años.
El vicepresidente sostuvo que Costa Rica mantiene un crecimiento económico cercano al 5% anual, una reducción del desempleo, una disminución de los índices de pobreza y un superávit primario en las finanzas públicas, elementos que, según afirmó, respaldan esa denominación.
“Para muestra, un botón. Pues acá para muestra cinco botones de que hemos sido, somos y seguiremos siendo una economía jaguar”, expresó.
Laura Fernández destaca impacto en el empleo
Por su parte, la presidenta de la República, Laura Fernández, calificó las cifras como una muestra de que las políticas impulsadas por el Gobierno para facilitar la inversión están dando resultados.
La mandataria afirmó que el Ejecutivo continuará trabajando en la simplificación de trámites, la digitalización de procesos y la reducción de costos para quienes desarrollan proyectos constructivos.
“Hay que continuar con la estrategia de dejarlos trabajar, simplificando trámites, digitalizando y buscando que los precios sean más baratos”, señaló.
Fernández recordó que la construcción es uno de los sectores con mayor capacidad para generar empleo y encadenamientos productivos en las comunidades.
“El sector construcción genera un enorme multiplicador de empleo y dinamización de la economía. Es una de las actividades donde más encadenamientos se producen”, concluyó.
corresponsal:Desde San José, Costa Rica
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