Primaries in the Midwest have become a high stakes proving ground for progressives

Democratic primary elections in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota have made the Midwest a test case for whether progressive candidates can win in competitive states and what electability really means.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x2001+0+0/resize/3000x2001!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F56%2Fc4%2F694cbe214f81875ffae0038ad2e0%2Fgettyimages-2286977336.jpg' alt='An attendee props up a sign with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's slogan highlighting his progressive policy of Medicare for All on July 25 in Ferndale, Mich.'/><p>Democratic primary elections in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota have made the Midwest a test case for whether progressive candidates can win in competitive states and what electability really means.</p><p>(Image credit: Emily Elconin)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5918682' />