U.S. Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Tours Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan saw a political tour de force as Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, joined by New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, engaged with residents in multiple towns. Their campaign aimed to address key issues facing local communities, drawing significant attention and participation.
The tour commenced at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba, where 500 individuals filled the “Miracle of Life” Pavilion. Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the audience’s diverse political views, stating, “I’m sure we have a great diversity in this room of independents and Democrats. Maybe we even have some Republicans that are having an open mind today.”
Escanaba, situated in Delta County, showed strong support for Donald Trump in the 2024 elections, with a 64-34 margin over Kamala Harris. El-Sayed addressed familiar campaign themes such as Medicare for All and removing money from politics, while engaging the audience in a town hall format.
Highlighting his stance on government spending, El-Sayed criticized the military budget. “I believe in government that actually shows up to do the things that government can uniquely do,” he said. “But we’re going to grow our military budget to $1.5 trillion so we can buy more bombs and tanks and make more war? That to me is insane.”
He also discussed the challenges facing rural healthcare, noting the presence of numerous clinics and hospitals in the U.P., and expressed concern over the rising costs of higher education. “You shouldn’t have to go into debt to get a higher education,” El-Sayed remarked. “It shouldn’t be that you are now stuck in quicksand, despite the fact that you are making your loans.”
Local residents resonated with the campaign’s messages. Anne Okonek, a retired federal worker from Escanaba, commented on the economic disparities, stating, “The rich are getting richer, the poor middle class are falling further behind, and we need to change our priorities. And that’s the message that Abdul has, and Alexandria as well.”
Marissa Backlund, a graphic designer and cheerleading coach, found the Medicare for All initiative particularly compelling. “It’s crazy how many people I know, especially younger people … who will not go to a hospital or anyone because they just can’t afford it, ever,” she said. “And then you see so many people dying of all these random diseases and things … that could have been prevented.”
Following Escanaba, the tour continued to Iron Mountain, gathering a few hundred attendees, and concluded with a significant rally in Marquette. The Marquette event, held at Vandament Arena on Northern Michigan University’s campus, attracted over 1,200 participants. Marquette County remains a Democratic stronghold within the U.P.
Ocasio-Cortez criticized El-Sayed’s opponent, Republican Mike Rogers, for his connections to the pharmaceutical industry, stating, “Michigan, corruption is making this country sick, and when you’re sick, who do you call? A doctor, not a drug company, and certainly not a politician paid by them. That is why it is time to elect Dr. Abdul El Sayed to the United States Senate.”
Rogers has attempted to link El-Sayed to organizations labeled as terrorist groups, though his campaign has not substantiated these claims. El-Sayed dismissed the accusations, focusing on economic concerns affecting residents. “Yoopers are worried about paying for gas and groceries,” he said.
Erich Ottem, a biology professor at NMU, observed a surge in political enthusiasm among young voters. “I haven’t seen this much excitement among younger voters since a certain Barack Obama was running for office,” Ottem noted. The campaign anticipates further momentum with former President Barack Obama joining El-Sayed for a rally in Detroit on October 24.
The upcoming election is scheduled for November 3.
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