Concerns Rise Among Key Voters Over El-sayed's Senate Bid
WHO:
CNN - Rep. Debbie Dingell expressed that “This election is not over until Election Day” regarding El-Sayed's campaign.
CNN - Lansing Mayor Andy Schor stated he won’t vote for El-Sayed until they have a conversation.
Fox News - Abdul El-Sayed, Black voters, Jewish Democrats, Rep. Haley Stevens, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, Rabbi Aaron Starr, state Attorney General Dana Nessel, Mike Rogers
CNN - El-Sayed, Trump, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hasan Piker, prominent state Democrats, 3,000 attendees at a synagogue service
WHAT:
CNN - El-Sayed drew over 400 people at a carpenters’ union hall for his first-ever event with Sen. Elissa Slotkin.
CNN - Mike Rogers marched a mile in the Pulaski Days parade.
CNN - Abdul El-Sayed predicts he will win the Michigan Senate race by 7 points.
CNN - El-Sayed defeated Rep. Haley Stevens by 1 point in the primary.
CNN - AIPAC spent $33 million through its super PAC to defeat El-Sayed.
CNN - El-Sayed's campaign has garnered support letters signed by hundreds of Jewish Michiganders.
CNN - Mike Rogers stated he feels he has consolidated state Republicans and is relying on significant outside spending.
WHERE:
Fox News - Michigan
CNN - Detroit, Grand Rapids, Macomb County, Southfield
WHEN:
CNN - El-Sayed announced Barack Obama would campaign with him in Michigan later in October.
CNN - A speech addressing Jewish concerns El-Sayed floated delivering has not yet been planned.
WHY:
CNN - Black and Jewish leaders warned that they need more outreach from El-Sayed's campaign.
CNN - Some key Democratic constituencies are not fully supportive of El-Sayed's campaign due to perceived lack of outreach.
CNN - El-Sayed's criticisms of Israel align with an increasingly anti-Israel party base.
CNN - Nessel expressed concern about what El-Sayed's potential Senate seat may mean for support for Israel.
HOW:
CNN - El-Sayed acknowledged that his confident prediction of a primary blowout hadn’t come through but stated, “I ran to render service for my state.”
CNN - El-Sayed has been pressured to modulate his positions since winning the primary but insists he will not.
CNN - El-Sayed has distanced himself from Hasan Piker after concerns about Piker's rhetoric affecting his campaign.
CNN - Rogers' campaign is focused on swing voters, with $20 million allocated to knock on 1 million doors by Election Day.
(UPDATED October 8, 2026 00:00 UTC)
Rep. Debbie Dingell emphasized that “This election is not over until Election Day” in relation to El-Sayed's campaign, while Lansing Mayor Andy Schor mentioned he won't support El-Sayed until they have a conversation. El-Sayed recently attracted over 400 attendees at his first event with Sen. Elissa Slotkin at a carpenters’ union hall, and Mike Rogers participated in the Pulaski Days parade. Meanwhile, Black and Jewish leaders are calling for more outreach from El-Sayed's campaign, as he acknowledged that his earlier prediction of a primary blowout did not materialize, stating, “I ran to render service for my state.”
--
(UPDATED October 7, 2026 22:06 UTC)
Abdul El-Sayed has announced that he will be joined by Barack Obama for a campaign event in Michigan later in October, as he predicts a victory in the Senate race by seven points after narrowly defeating Rep. Haley Stevens in the primary. Despite facing significant opposition, including a $33 million effort from AIPAC to defeat him, El-Sayed has received support from hundreds of Jewish Michiganders, although some key Democratic groups remain hesitant due to concerns about his outreach and criticisms of Israel. Meanwhile, Mike Rogers is focusing on swing voters, planning to spend $20 million to reach one million doors by Election Day, as he believes he has consolidated support among state Republicans.