Kamala Harris to Campaign with Michigan Senate Nominee Abdul El-Sayed

Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to appear alongside Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, at an upcoming Black maternal health roundtable event. The joint appearance, confirmed by El-Sayed's campaign, has fueled speculation about Harris's political future and a potential 2028 presidential run.

El-Sayed expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming event, telling Politico, "I’m just really looking forward to having her here, and she is somebody who so many folks in communities like Detroit look up to as an inspirational leader." He added that he is "grateful that she’s coming in and having conversations about what it takes to get the turnout up, so that we can get on to working on some of these issues in the U.S. Senate."

Harris previously endorsed El-Sayed last month, highlighting his positions on affordability. "Dr. Abdul El-Sayed understands the power is with the people, and that the stakes couldn’t be higher in this election," Harris stated in her endorsement. "Abdul knows that we need bold solutions to the crises facing America’s working families and he is ready to take on this fight. I proudly stand with him to ensure we win a Democratic Senate majority in Nov."

The visit by Harris comes as El-Sayed faces scrutiny in his race. The Detroit News endorsed his Republican rival, Mike Rogers, citing Rogers's experience and criticizing El-Sayed's past statements and deleted online content. The newspaper described El-Sayed as having "worked so hard covering his tracks leading up to this Senate race that it's impossible to know who he really is or where he would stand in the Senate."

El-Sayed's campaign schedule includes several fundraisers on the West Coast and in New York. He is slated to attend an event in late September hosted by Jeffrey Soros, nephew of George Soros, with a host committee that includes several former Obama administration officials and podcast hosts. Another fundraiser in New York City is scheduled for next month, with ticket prices ranging up to $57,800.

Harris's endorsement of El-Sayed is one of her few major endorsements of progressive candidates in the current midterm cycle. She has also supported Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee in Maine, and Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City, though her support for Mamdani was stated more generally. El-Sayed himself has disavowed labels such as "progressive" and is not backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

El-Sayed's platform centers on affordability, advocating for lower housing costs, Medicare for All, and tuition-free higher education. He has previously expressed support for Harris, calling on Democrats to rally behind her after former President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 election, citing her "potential" for leadership.