Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has declared her support for Abdul El-Sayed in the competitive Michigan Democratic Senate primary. The endorsement, initially reported by The New York Times, is a significant one from the progressive congresswoman in the current midterm cycle.

According to Ocasio-Cortez, El-Sayed is considered the strongest candidate to maintain the seat in the upcoming November elections. “He is building a winning coalition by putting forward an agenda that speaks directly to working people,” stated Ocasio-Cortez in a statement released by El-Sayed’s campaign.

El-Sayed faces Rep. Haley Stevens and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow in the three-way primary set for August. The winner will advance to November’s closely watched battleground race. At the time of reporting, McMorrow’s campaign has not responded to requests for comment, and a spokesperson for Stevens declined to comment.

This endorsement marks the first time Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed a candidate in a contested Senate primary this cycle. She has not endorsed candidates in other contested primaries across states like Maine, Texas, and Iowa.

Progressive insurgents have recently seen success in congressional primaries, with El-Sayed gaining momentum as he positions himself as the most progressive candidate in the pivotal primary.

In a show of gratitude, El-Sayed praised Ocasio-Cortez for her leadership, saying, “AOC has spent her career taking on the powerful on behalf of everyday people, and she has shown all of us what courageous, smart, values-driven leadership looks like. I’m deeply honored to earn her endorsement. Onward to victory.”

However, Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement contrasts with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who backs Stevens. Stevens has received support from the Detroit News editorial board and various Senators including Ruben Gallego, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Chris Coons. McMorrow’s endorsements include backing from the Detroit Free Press editorial board and Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy, and Martin Heinrich.

Ocasio-Cortez’s preference for El-Sayed as the most electable candidate comes amid debates among Democrats about the qualities needed to win, especially in states like Michigan. Some of Stevens’ supporters argue her moderate stance could appeal to swing voters, while McMorrow aims to attract support from both party wings.

Michigan is a vital state for Democrats as they attempt to take control of the Senate. The state voted for former President Joe Biden in 2020 after supporting President Donald Trump in 2016. With Sen. Gary Peters retiring, the Democratic nominee is likely to face Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election. Rogers previously ran for Senate in Michigan in 2020, narrowly losing to Sen. Elissa Slotkin.