Sanders says ‘many’ working-class Republicans could vote for el Sayed in general election
Senator Bernie Sanders expressed his belief that many working-class Republican voters in Michigan may support socialist democratic Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed in the upcoming general election, should he win the primary against incumbent Rep. Haley Stevens. On NBC’s Meet the Press, Sanders highlighted that economic anxiety among Republican voters-related to issues like healthcare, wages, and the broken campaign finance system-coudl lead them to vote for el Sayed, who advocates for a livable minimum wage and other progressive policies. This stance underscores a growing intra-party debate about the Democratic Party’s direction, with centrist figures worried about progressive candidates’ electability in general elections. Recent polls indicate el Sayed is leading Stevens by double digits, positioning him to face former Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election. Sanders also noted that Michigander voters feel the current system is broken and that el Sayed’s platform resonates with their concerns, possibly attracting Republican voters who are dissatisfied with the status quo.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said Sunday he thinks “many” working-class Republican voters in Michigan “will end up voting for” socialist Democratic Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed in a theoretical general election should he defeat Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in the primary election on Tuesday.
While on Meet the Press, Sanders was asked by Kristen Welker about a statement Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) had made in which he argued Stevens was the better choice for Democrats since she is more likely to appeal to centrist and independent voters than a socialist candidate.
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“Here’s what he said, Senator,” Welker told Sanders. “‘You have to have a candidate who understands that winning a general election doesn’t mean just turning out Democrats. You also have to appeal to a broader cross-section of your state, and Michigan is a true purple state.’”
Sanders responded by saying that economic anxiety felt by working-class Republican voters will be enough to flip their vote in favor of a self-proclaimed socialist. The Vermont senator has long been the Democratic Party’s most prominent advocate of an anti-corporate economic agenda and has taken the lead this summer in supporting congressional candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The recent success of such candidates in Democratic primaries has injected new energy into a party otherwise struggling to connect with voters, but has simultaneously prompted intra-party fighting about the proper direction for Democrats moving forward. Many centrist figures in the party have argued the DSA platform will harm Democratic candidates in general elections in November by associating the broader party with a movement that seeks to abolish the Senate, enact significant immigration reform, and defund the military.
Stevens and el Sayed, who face off in the Democratic primary election on Tuesday, represent the prevailing party dispute in a state President Donald Trump won by over one percentage point in the 2024 presidential election.
“Well, I think Gary makes a — a good point,” Sanders said. “And the reason I think that Dr. el Sayed will win in Michigan is that if you’re a working-class Republican, you know what? You can’t afford healthcare. You know the system is broken. You are struggling to figure out how you’re going to retire with dignity. You understand that the current campaign finance system is broken. You understand that workers need decent wages, and el Sayed is fighting for a livable minimum wage.”
Stevens has been endorsed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), while el Sayed has the support of other progressive figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
EL SAYED WIDENS LEAD AGAINST ESTABLISHMENT-BACKED STEVENS IN MICHIGAN SENATE RACE
Recent polling shows el Sayed leads Stevens by double digits ahead of Tuesday’s matchup. The winner will face Trump-backed former Rep. Mike Rogers in a bid to succeed the retiring Peters.
“I think if you’re a working-class Republican in Michigan, I think you’re going to listen to what el Sayed says… and I think many of them will end up voting for him,” Sanders said.
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