US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed scored an important victory against incumbent House Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic primary, a closely watched contest that pitted progressives against moderates of the US party.

El-Sayed, who represents the leftwing progressives, narrowly defeated the moderate leaning Stevens 48.5% to 47.5%.

He will go on to face Republican incumbent Senator Mike Rogers in a seat that Democratic party must win if they hope to take control of the US Senate this November in the midterm elections.

Trump insults El-Sayed after primary race

The race between El-Sayed, who was endorsed by the likes of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and Stevens, who had the backing of the Democratic party establishment was seen as a proxy war for the future ideological direction of the party. Stevens was also backed with a big fundraising effort of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC.

Democrats "have to come together to make sure that we never let Mike Rogers see the inside of the US Senate," El-Sayed said after winning the primary.

Stevens conceded to El-Sayed, saying she would "offer him my full support as we work to defeat Mike Rogers."

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump reacted to the news by calling El-Sayed "a Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel."

This is a developing story, more details to come...

Edited by: Darko Janjevic

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