This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from Bridge Michigan, sign up for a free Bridge Michigan newsletter here.
ALPENA — A town not often in the political spotlight recently hosted a significant event that drew attention from across the state. Long-time Alpena resident, Marion Hautea, was among those witnessing a rare political rally when U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders visited to endorse Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
“The political picture in Alpena is on the red side,” Hautea observed. “I think it’s a great way for people on the blue side to really partake in the experience. To open up the doors for everybody to have a discussion, that’s actually the best way.”
Sanders’ appearance was part of a broader strategy by El-Sayed and his supporters to mitigate the Republican stronghold in northern Michigan, a region President Donald Trump claimed by a substantial margin in the previous election. The aim is to reduce this advantage, potentially influencing statewide outcomes in tightly contested races.
Meanwhile, Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers is equally active, seeking to sway traditional Democratic supporters, including Jewish voters and Detroiters who previously supported Haley Stevens, El-Sayed’s primary rival. More details on this strategy can be found here.
The turnout for Sanders was unexpectedly high, necessitating additional seating and space adjustments. During the event, Sanders advocated for El-Sayed, criticized President Trump, and highlighted pressing issues like income inequality and healthcare reform.
Greg Manz, senior communications adviser for the Michigan Republican Party, countered Sanders’ visit by asserting that the progressive policies championed by Sanders and El-Sayed pose “direct threats to Michiganders’ livelihoods.”
Both Rogers and GOP gubernatorial hopeful John James are pushing their campaigns in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Democrats, however, see an opportunity to attract disenchanted voters due to Trump’s declining approval ratings, high inflation, and international conflicts, such as the war in Iran.
In a notable development, Democrat Callie Barr has outperformed incumbent U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman in fundraising efforts, as reported here, signaling potential shifts in voter sentiment.
‘Michigan first’
El-Sayed is capitalizing on national trends and has adopted a strategy reminiscent of Trump’s by appealing to voters disenchanted with government. This includes adopting the “America First” slogan with a localized “Michigan first” message, and holding large rallies in areas like the UP and rural Michigan.
Michigan pollster Richard Czuba indicated the importance of non-college-educated white voters for Trump’s coalition, warning that if El-Sayed successfully attracts these voters, it could spell trouble for Republicans.
In a discussion with Bridge Michigan, Sanders emphasized the importance of engaging with often-neglected rural voters, especially given the current economic climate. “What we have found is that many rural communities often don’t get the attention that they deserve,” Sanders remarked.
Reaching out
Diane O’Connor, an Alpena County Democratic Party activist, commented on Sanders’ visit, “I thought it was very Bernie Sanders to come to a northern, small community. I think he has always tried to reach out to everyone.”
The impressive turnout for Sanders’ talk did not surprise O’Connor, who is optimistic about its impact on the upcoming election. Christie Rasche, another Alpena resident, expressed satisfaction at seeing a diverse political perspective in a traditionally conservative area.
Sanders’ Michigan tour, which also included stops in liberal strongholds, is backed by a significant financial commitment to El-Sayed’s campaign in the lead-up to the election, countering aggressive attack ads from opposing groups. “Abdul is taking on everybody,” said Sanders. “We’re never going to have as much money as the billionaires and their super PACs, but I think we’ve got to do our best to make sure that Abdul has a fighting chance to win this election.”
This article first appeared on Bridge Michigan and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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