Kamala Harris and Abdul El-Sayed Campaign Together in Detroit

Former Vice President Kamala Harris advocated alongside Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed at a Detroit birth center on Tuesday. This marked their first joint public appearance since Harris endorsed El-Sayed following his victory in the August primary.

Sitting at a roundtable discussion on Black maternal health, both Harris and El-Sayed emphasized the importance of the election against Republican Mike Rogers. They argued that the outcome will determine whether previous federal funding cuts to maternal care initiated under the Trump administration will be reversed.

“One in 12 women in America lives in a maternal care desert,” Harris stated. “Black women are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth.”

She linked the issue to policies from the Trump era, noting “Medicaid is the largest funder for maternity care in America,” and commented that “Donald Trump cut Medicaid funding by a trillion dollars.” Additionally, she remarked that Rogers supported those cuts.

El-Sayed shared a personal story, mentioning how his grandmother lost two infants, and his father witnessed two siblings die before the age of five. “Babies shouldn’t die,” El-Sayed said, arguing that how society supports people during life’s transitions is crucial.

With the election date approaching, El-Sayed stressed the importance of the campaign period, saying, “We have 42 days left. What we do in those six weeks will make a huge difference,” as he expressed gratitude to Harris for her visit and her ongoing leadership in maternity care.

Harris, having lost the 2024 presidential race to Donald Trump, is seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Her visit to Michigan highlighted its importance as a key state for Democrats aiming to regain control of the Senate in 2027. The seat became open after Democratic Senator Gary Peters announced he would not run for reelection.

Michigan is among seven Senate races labeled as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, ranking alongside contests in Alaska, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Texas. Sabato’s Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ also view these races as competitive.

El-Sayed Surges in Polls

Harris’s visit coincided with El-Sayed experiencing one of his most favorable polling weeks, as a recent survey showed his lead widening over Republican Mike Rogers ahead of Election Day.

The poll, released by the Suffolk University Political Research Center, gave El-Sayed a 7-point advantage over Rogers. This represents his largest lead in any September poll. Other candidates amounted to 3 percent, while 8 percent of voters remained undecided.

The poll involved 500 likely voters in Michigan and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. Newsweek sought comments from both campaigns for clarity.

“Abdul El-Sayed is popular with unaffiliated Michigan voters,” noted David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center.

Paleologos attributed part of El-Sayed’s success to dissatisfaction with tariffs and proposals for data centers, which swayed independent voters towards Democrats.

Tariffs on Canada and the prospect of data centers in Michigan were significant concerns, affecting voter sentiment compared to 2024.

Among independents, El-Sayed leads Rogers 51 percent to 35 percent, making this voter block pivotal. Gender differences are also evident: Rogers leads among men 50 percent to 37 percent, whereas El-Sayed holds a lead among women 56 percent to 31 percent.

Union membership and gun ownership further split the electorate. Union households favor El-Sayed 53 percent to 31 percent, while non-union households are nearly evenly divided. Gun-owning households lean towards Rogers, while those without a gun favor El-Sayed.

Earlier polls from The Washington Post, George Mason University’s Schar School, CNN, and SSRS suggested a narrower margin for El-Sayed, generally around 3 points. Emerson College, InsiderAdvantage, and Trafalgar Group similarly indicated a close race.

Only The Glengariff Group’s late-August survey showed Rogers edging ahead by 1 point.

Democrats Focus on Michigan

Michigan remains a priority for Democrats who seek to regain Senate control in 2027. With Senator Gary Peters retiring, the race becomes crucial. Republicans currently defend a 53-47 majority, requiring Democrats to flip four seats without losing any of their own.

Advertising expenditures highlight the stakes, with $125 million spent in Michigan since the August primary. This sum surpasses spending in any state where Republicans hope to secure a seat, involving efforts from El-Sayed, Rogers, and their supporters.

El-Sayed represents newer Democratic perspectives, willingly breaking from the party establishment on economic matters. Rogers, with his congressional background and Trump’s endorsement, emphasizes his law enforcement experience to appeal to Republican voters.

Controversy Over Hasan Piker Association

El-Sayed continues to navigate his association with Hasan Piker without severing ties completely. Piker, having hosted El-Sayed frequently, campaigned with him during the primary.

“He disavowed it. So yes, America didn’t deserve 9/11…” El-Sayed mentioned on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” addressing past comments by Piker.

Piker downplayed the fallout, expressing surprise at the attention their appearances attracted.

The controversy came in the wake of a divisive primary against Haley Stevens, which highlighted internal rifts among Democrats over Piker’s influence and policies.

Rogers Targets Democratic Voters

Rogers aims to win over Democratic voters, focusing on Detroit by promoting literacy initiatives and housing plans. His campaign senses potential in Wayne County, noting some Democratic opposition to El-Sayed.

Rogers also seeks support from Jewish Democrats critical of El-Sayed’s stance on Israel. A fundraiser in the area, which drew significant Democratic attendance, demonstrates Rogers’ outreach.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel dismissed Rogers’ efforts, suggesting insufficient connections to Black communities.

Rogers narrowly lost the 2024 Senate race by 19,000 votes. He aims to increase Democratic and independent support this cycle.

Michigan’s Senate race is closely monitored as midterms approach on November 3. The race is considered a toss-up, reflecting its competitive nature.