Michigan Democrats Fear 1-Point Primary Winner El-Sayed Could Lose Black Voters to Rogers
Updated
Updated · CNN · Oct 20
Michigan Democrats Fear 1-Point Primary Winner El-Sayed Could Lose Black Voters to Rogers
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Oct 20
Summary
$280 million in ad spending has not erased Democratic anxiety that Abdul El-Sayed may be underperforming with Black voters in Detroit and Flint, a potentially decisive weakness in a race critical to Senate control.
El-Sayed won the August primary by just 1 point, powered by Arab American, Muslim and young progressive voters, while Haley Stevens had stronger backing from many Black voters around Detroit.
Mike Rogers has targeted that opening for months, opening a Detroit office, running Black-focused outreach and arguing Democrats have taken those communities for granted.
Barack Obama will rally with El-Sayed in Detroit on Saturday, joining Kamala Harris, Raphael Warnock and Congressional Black Caucus members deployed to shore up support.
If even a small share of Black Democrats defect or stay home on November 3, Democrats could lose Gary Peters' open seat and face a much harder path to the four-seat Senate gain they need.