Did massive outside spending or grassroots organizing matter more in Michigan’s high-profile Senate primary?

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Grassroots organizing appears to have mattered more in deciding the outcome, even though outside spending dominated the airwaves. Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary was one of the most expensive in the country, with total ad spending and reservations around $98.2 million. Outside groups accounted for roughly 88% of Democratic-side spending, and most of that money helped Haley Stevens. AIPAC-affiliated United Democracy Project alone spent tens of millions, with other pro-Stevens groups adding heavily to that advantage. By contrast, Abdul El-Sayed was badly outspent. Yet El-Sayed still won narrowly, suggesting money had limits. Reporting from across the race pointed to a much stronger field operation on his side: his campaign said it built a volunteer army of more than 10,000 people, held hundreds of events, knocked more than 200,000 doors and made about 1 million phone calls. Local and national accounts described that organizing as central to his ability to turn enthusiasm into votes, especially among younger and progressive voters. That does not mean outside spending was irrelevant. It likely kept Stevens highly competitive, boosted her visibility statewide and helped make the race close. But the final result indicates that the heavy independent spending was not enough to overcome El-Sayed’s direct voter contact, message discipline and on-the-ground mobilization. So the best evidence from the result is that massive outside spending shaped the contest, but grassroots organi…

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Sanders Tells Carville to Start Own Party, Defending Hasan Piker After 9/11 Remark Row

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