El-Sayed Rallies Support in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Gathering a crowd in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula can be challenging, but Abdul El-Sayed appears to have successfully drawn significant support. During a visit to the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba, over 500 people turned out to back the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate. This event marked the beginning of a day packed with activities, concluding with a rally attended by 1,200 individuals in Marquette.
For nearly a year, El-Sayed has engaged with residents across Michigan, visiting barns, union halls, and homes in various towns. His objective is to garner support from independents and disenchanted conservative voters.
While speaking in Escanaba, El-Sayed encouraged his supporters to forgive those who voted for former President Donald Trump and to focus on future possibilities. “We’ve got to be willing to invite them to a decision they have yet to make,” El-Sayed stated. “We have an opportunity to build our country, not just watch it get torn down.”
Despite his efforts, El-Sayed faces an uphill battle, as 60% of Upper Peninsula residents voted for Trump in 2024. Rally attendee Andre Brown noted a shift in conversations, saying, “Back when Biden was president, it was like, ‘Oh, this is all Joe Biden and the gas prices,’ but they’re pretty quiet right now. They just complain about it.”
Bart Stupak, the last Democrat to represent the U.P. in the U.S. House, has endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary but believes El-Sayed’s approach could appeal to local voters. Stupak remarked, “Just showing up helps him tremendously to try to connect with not just Democrats but all the voters, even those Republicans who are disenchanted with the party right now.”
Republican State Representative Karl Bohnak, a former meteorologist, expressed skepticism about El-Sayed’s campaign, stating, “I don’t pay much attention to Abdul. I don’t even really know what his message is.” Bohnak, a supporter of Republican Mike Rogers, questioned the feasibility of El-Sayed’s healthcare proposals, including Medicare for All.
Healthcare remains a pressing issue in the Upper Peninsula, with many residents traveling long distances for medical care. Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services indicates that nearly one-third of U.P. residents are on Medicare, while 7% lack insurance entirely.
Bohnak also criticized the Democratic Party’s direction, asserting that it has shifted too far left. He emphasized the importance of centrist policies focused on reliable energy and job creation. El-Sayed acknowledged some parallels, noting, “Yoopers are common sense, thoughtful people, and they don’t like paying more in gas than they need to. Don’t like paying more in groceries and they don’t like being taken advantage of by a billionaire from New York.”
El-Sayed, a Michigan native, faces challenges from attack ads alleging ties to terrorism, claims that lack evidence. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who attended the U.P. tour with El-Sayed, described the ads as distractions, saying, “They want to make this man look very big and scary on television, because what they think and what they’re betting on is that if they can make you scared of him, then that means you won’t listen to him.”
Stupak, who experienced success partly due to his pro-gun, anti-abortion stance, identified potential concerns with El-Sayed’s past comments on policing. El-Sayed has previously expressed support for redirecting funds to address root causes of crime and eliminating police violence, a stance that emerged after George Floyd’s murder.
While Stupak is undecided about voting for El-Sayed, he remains open-minded, stating, “I would have voted by now, but I just want to see how this plays out a little bit more. Yeah, I’m a Democrat, but that doesn’t mean I vote for every Democrat that shows up on the ticket.”
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