U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders are scheduled to hold campaign rallies in Michigan to support Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate vying for the Democratic nomination in the state's U.S. Senate race. The events, titled “The People vs. The Powerful,” are slated for July 18-19.
El-Sayed, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, is running in the primary to succeed two-term Sen. Gary Peters, who is retiring. He has been leading in early polls but faces opposition from the Democratic Party's establishment wing. The race has become a focal point in the ideological debate within the party, with national progressive figures like Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders lending their support.
The involvement of Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders highlights the stakes for the left wing of the Democratic Party, particularly following a recent primary loss in Maine. "We’ve seen what happened in New York and Colorado. The real question is can it happen in a purple state like Michigan?" said Bill Ballenger, a former Michigan state legislator and author of the Ballenger Report, referring to recent progressive primary victories. "Could El-Sayed win? And if he does – boy then there is really going to be a story this coming November."
Adding to the contest, Rep. Haley Stevens, who has the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, is El-Sayed's primary rival after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow withdrew from the race. Stevens and El-Sayed have engaged in sharp debates, with Stevens questioning El-Sayed's financial background and El-Sayed criticizing Stevens' ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
"The Republicans who want to protect Trump’s Senate majority are campaigning for him, too – because they think he’d be easier to beat," said Andrew Bates, a former deputy press secretary for President Joe Biden. "El-Sayed should take a page from Sanders’ book and release his tax returns."
El-Sayed's campaign has faced scrutiny, with some linking his consultants to other candidates whose campaigns have struggled. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has criticized El-Sayed's alignment with Ocasio-Cortez, predicting potential tax increases and cuts to law enforcement funding if they were to serve together in Congress.
The rallies are planned for Democratic strongholds in Detroit and Lansing, as well as the more Republican-leaning Grand Rapids. The campaign swing occurs as Michigan remains a critical battleground state in presidential politics, and where President Biden faced a significant "uncommitted" protest vote from Arab American residents during the 2024 election over the war in Gaza.