Warren defies Schumer as Dem civil war explodes over must-win Senate race

There's a battle to shape the Democratic Party this fall, and two top Senate Democrats are taking different paths in their bids to put their mark on the process.

The diverging endorsements are emblematic of the fight going on behind the scenes and publicly in the Democratic Party as the old guard fights to stand its ground, while a progressive surge threatens to completely overtake the party.

"And make no mistake," Warren said. "Abdul is the only candidate in this race who can build the grassroots movement needed to win in November. More money in your pocket, to get money out of politics and deliver 'Medicare-for-all.' Michigan, let's get this done."

Notably, Warren had previously endorsed Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who dropped out of the race earlier this month. McMorrow was opposed to "Medicare-for-all," a key policy push of Warren's.

And El-Sayed has made headlines, like Platner, for his old social media posts - particularly his pitch to "defund the police" as a means to reinvest tax dollars to prevent the purchase of "war materiel to wage war in our streets."

Schumer took his time to go public with his endorsement in what was once a messy, three-way primary battle, first privately backing Stevens.

"I think she has the best chance to win," Schumer told Punchbowl News last month.

El-Sayed has also amassed a list of heavy hitters, including Warren, Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.

Instead, he views his candidacy as "a threat" to Schumer and the old guard's system.

"So, of course, they're freaking out," El-Sayed said. "They're not freaking out because they think I'm going to lose. They're freaking out because they think I'm going to win."