{"id":2639338,"date":"2026-08-02T17:30:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T21:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sanders-says-many-working-class-republicans-could-vote-for-el-sayed-in-general-election\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T17:33:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T21:33:09","slug":"sanders-says-many-working-class-republicans-could-vote-for-el-sayed-in-general-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sanders-says-many-working-class-republicans-could-vote-for-el-sayed-in-general-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Sanders says &#8216;many&#8217; working-class Republicans could vote for el Sayed in general election"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsanders-says-many-working-class-republicans-could-vote-for-el-sayed-in-general-election%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2639338&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>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&#8217;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&#8217;s direction, with centrist figures worried about progressive candidates&#8217; 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&#8217;s platform resonates with their concerns, possibly attracting Republican voters who are dissatisfied with the status quo.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) said Sunday he thinks \u201cmany\u201d working-class <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\">Republican<\/a> voters in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\">Michigan<\/a> \u201cwill end up voting for\u201d socialist Democratic Senate candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a> in a theoretical general election should he defeat Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in the primary election on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While on <em>Meet the Press<\/em>, Sanders <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/meet-the-press\/transcripts\/meet-press-august-2-2026-rcna590457\">was asked by<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4672299\/sanders-says-republican-voters-vote-for-el-sayed\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Sanders says \u2018many\u2019 working-class Republican voters could vote for el Sayed in general election<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4672204\/james-carville-democratic-party-hasan-piker\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>James Carville says he\u2019ll leave Democratic Party if Hasan Piker \u2018becomes a force\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4672133\/max-miller-emily-moreno-abuse-allegations-mental\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rep. Max Miller cites ex-wife Emily Moreno\u2019s \u2018mental health challenges\u2019 in denying abuse allegations<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHere\u2019s what he said, Senator,\u201d Welker told Sanders. \u201c\u2018You have to have a candidate who understands that winning a general election doesn\u2019t 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.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\">Democratic Party\u2019s<\/a> most prominent advocate of an anti-corporate economic agenda and has taken <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4654625\/bernie-sanders-barnstorms-michigan-kingmaker-credibility\/\">the lead this summer<\/a> in supporting congressional candidates backed by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-socialists-of-america\/\">Democratic Socialists of America<\/a> ahead of November\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recent success of such candidates in Democratic primaries has injected new energy into a party otherwise <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4658695\/democrats-see-dip-generic-ballot-polling\/\">struggling to connect<\/a> with voters, but has simultaneously prompted intra-party fighting about the proper direction for Democrats moving forward. Many <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4672204\/james-carville-democratic-party-hasan-piker\/\">centrist figures<\/a> in the party have argued the DSA platform will harm Democratic candidates in general elections in November by associating the broader party with a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4663817\/dsa-calls-to-abolish-senate-ice-borders-interview\/\">movement that seeks<\/a> to abolish the Senate, enact significant immigration reform, and defund the military.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevens and el Sayed, who face off in the Democratic primary election on Tuesday, represent the prevailing party dispute in a state President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/election\/2024\/us\/states\/mi\">won by over<\/a> one percentage point in the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, I think Gary makes a \u2014 a good point,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cAnd the reason I think that Dr. el Sayed will win in Michigan is that if you\u2019re a working-class Republican, you know what? You can\u2019t afford healthcare. You know the system is broken. You are struggling to figure out how you\u2019re going to retire with dignity. You understand that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/left-wing-dark-money-networks-hid-millions-in-the-2020-elections\/\" title=\"Left-Wing ...Dark Money\u2019 Networks Hid Millions in the 2020 Elections\">current campaign finance system<\/a> is broken. You understand that workers need decent wages, and el Sayed is fighting for a livable minimum wage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevens has been endorsed by Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gretchen-whitmer\/\">Gretchen Whitmer<\/a> (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).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4671682\/el-sayed-widens-lead-stevens-michigan-senate-race\/\"><strong>EL SAYED WIDENS LEAD AGAINST ESTABLISHMENT-BACKED STEVENS IN MICHIGAN SENATE RACE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4671682\/el-sayed-widens-lead-stevens-michigan-senate-race\/&#038;sa=D&#038;source=docs&#038;ust=1785703135168149&#038;usg=AOvVaw0ZLFT7ZaW7JVob0u55lZBS\">Recent polling<\/a> shows el Sayed leads Stevens by double digits ahead of Tuesday\u2019s matchup. The winner will face Trump-backed former Rep. Mike Rogers in a bid to succeed the retiring Peters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think if you\u2019re a working-class Republican in Michigan, I think you\u2019re going to listen to what el Sayed says\u2026 and I think many of them will end up voting for him,\u201d Sanders said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sanders predicts working-class Republicans may vote for el Sayed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3238,"featured_media":2639339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-pp9owmx39-1785703262002-e1785703464960.jpg?1785689041&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[81734,6571,5894,3756,18074],"class_list":["post-2639338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-el-sayed","tag-elections","tag-politics","tag-republicans","tag-working-class"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-pp9owmx39-1785703262002-e1785703464960.jpg?1785689041&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2639338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2639338"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2639338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2639342,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2639338\/revisions\/2639342"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2639339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2639338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2639338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2639338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}