💛 A quick favor, if you've got a second.
We're really happy that you chose to read one of our stories and sincerely hope you'll stick around to read more. We took our paywall down — for now — but that won't last forever, and when the gate goes back up, we'd love for you to already be on the inside.
It's free. So please enter your email here and don't forget to like and follow us on all of your favorite Social Media platforms!
Republicans have gained early momentum in Michigan’s competitive Senate contest following a contentious Democratic primary that has left the party fractured heading into the general election. A Fox News survey released this week reveals that Republican nominee Mike Rogers holds a 51-47 percent advantage over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, the result of stronger party cohesion among GOP voters than their Democratic counterparts.
El-Sayed, a physician and former Wayne County Health Department director, narrowly won the Democratic primary over moderate Rep. Haley Stevens to face Rogers in the race to defend the seat of retiring Sen. Gary Peters. The primary contest highlighted deep ideological divisions within the party, with El-Sayed representing the progressive wing and Stevens appealing to moderate voters.
A Fox News poll conducted August 6-10 underscores the Democratic unity problem. While 96 percent of Republicans, including 99 percent of MAGA-aligned Republicans and 89 percent of other Republicans, back Rogers, El-Sayed’s support among Democrats sits at 91 percent. Democratic Socialists of America members back El-Sayed at 98 percent, but that support drops sharply to 69 percent among non-DSA Democrats and independents.
El-Sayed’s policy positions and controversial past statements have drawn Republican attacks. The Democratic nominee has championed “Medicare-for-all,” called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and characterized Israeli military operations in Gaza as “genocide.” He was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York during his primary campaign.
Rogers, a former congressman backed by President Donald Trump, has seized on Democratic disunity by directly appealing to voters uncomfortable with El-Sayed’s positions. In a recent campaign video, Rogers told Democrats who feel unrepresented by their nominee’s selection that “there is still hope” and offered them a “home” in his campaign.
Chris Anderson, the Democratic partner on the Fox News Poll, acknowledged El-Sayed faces significant challenges but suggested the situation could improve. “There is damage done from the primary,” Anderson said, but he predicted that as Election Day approaches, partisan voters would increasingly coalesce behind their respective nominees regardless of primary divisions.
El-Sayed projected confidence about reunifying Democrats before the primary vote, emphasizing shared concerns about Trump and Rogers. If elected, El-Sayed would become the nation’s first Muslim U.S. senator, a historic achievement that progressive Democrats highlighted during his primary campaign.
More Stories
Democratic Leadership Stands by Maine Senate Candidate Amid Family Relationship Controversy
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Offers a Stark Metaphor for America’s Fiscal Future
Trump Administration Declines Appeal in Major Second Amendment Victory for Gun Rights Advocates