Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed’s primary win has turned heads in the Democratic Party, and notable members are looking to join him on the campaign trail, each armed with unique ammunition to boost his platform.
After defeating Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in the primary election, el Sayed now faces the challenge of uniting Democratic voters. El Sayed has strong support from the party’s progressive flank but still needs to garner support from black and establishment voters who backed his competitor.
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Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is heading to Michigan to stump for el Sayed on Thursday. Buttigieg is set to headline a rally held by the Michigan Democratic Party to launch the general election campaign season.
A potential 2028 presidential candidate, Buttigieg steered clear of endorsing a candidate in the primary battle. Now, he’s uniquely positioned to swoop into the race as a unifying voice to bring Democratic voters together to support el Sayed. The appearance could be mutually advantageous as Buttigieg, a more centrist Democrat, could turn progressive el Sayed voters in his direction while also turning traditional liberals for the Senate candidate.
Also headed to the state is Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who is set to rally with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor, and attorney general candidate Eli Savit. Politico reported that Newsom is in conversations about hosting an event with el Sayed, but an official announcement has yet to manifest.
Newsom comes armed with national attention that makes his fundraising power intense. One of the first 2028 prospects to endorse el Sayed, Newsom could bring more attention and financially boost el Sayed, who has vowed not to accept any corporate PAC money. The financial uplift could be crucial for el Sayed in the race against GOP nominee Mike Rogers, a former representative who is backed by President Donald Trump.
Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) does not yet have plans to visit Michigan, but Politico reported that the possible 2028 presidential candidate has talked with el Sayed about swaying black voters. As the only black governor in the United States, staunch support from Moore could be crucial for el Sayed. In the primary election, Stevens was heavily favored by black voters, a critical voting bloc in the state.
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Also in conversation with el Sayed are Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY), Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL), New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris and el Sayed spoke after his win. The Democratic nominee said the two spoke about “what it’ll take to win Michigan,” according to the New York Times.
The wide-ranging support from prominent Democrats gives el Sayed the potential to cast a wide net, but he still has a crucial group to sway: Jewish voters. While el Sayed, who is Muslim, has voiced his “commitment to Jewish safety,” comments made on the campaign trail about aid to Israel and money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee bolstering his competitor have some Jewish groups anxious about supporting him.
