Senate Democrats Close Ranks Behind El-Sayed

Senate Democrats have closed ranks behind Michigan progressive Abdul El-Sayed, signaling a willingness to embrace candidates further to the party's left as Republicans confront voter frustration over the prolonged Iran war and stubbornly high living costs ahead of November's midterms.

"He's a great candidate," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee,

 

 said Wednesday after more than a dozen Democratic senators met with El-Sayed at the party's political headquarters near the Capitol, according to The New York Times.

"We haven't lost Michigan in 30 years. He's energizing the base, and I'm optimistic."

El-Sayed, a vocal critic of Israel who has said he opposes its existence as a Jewish state, defeated four-term Rep. Haley Stevens, who ran as a more moderate candidate, in Michigan's August primary.

His victory highlighted ideological divisions within the party, but Democrats have tried to minimize those differences as they attempt to retake control of the Senate.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.,

 

 predicted El-Sayed could reach beyond progressive voters.

"Abdul is going to be able to cross over and get conservative, traditionally Republican support in Michigan," Murphy said.

"He's more of a bridge-builder here than people think he will be. I'm all in."

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said the two connected as "dads just trying to make a better world for our little kids. We both know we've got a small window to make things right for them."

The Democrats' embrace comes as the political environment has been complicated for President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans by a more than six-month war with Iran and persistent affordability concerns.

The conflict has coincided with higher energy prices, while U.S. inflation stood at 3.4% in August and gasoline prices jumped 3.9% that month.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates Wednesday as inflation remained elevated.

El-Sayed's views on Israel and associations with progressive figures have drawn criticism from Republicans and concern among some Jewish Democrats.

El-Sayed is also expected to meet with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., despite previously saying he would not support Schumer as party leader.

Schumer contacted El-Sayed after his primary victory and said, "We have more that unites us than divides us."

El-Sayed said Wednesday he expected a "productive meeting" focused on common ground.

"If Elon Musk or Donald Trump are out here trying to spend yet more money, I'm certainly hoping for future colleagues to support us," El-Sayed said. "We need solidarity."

Asked about his ties to streamer Hasan Piker, 

 

whose comments about Israel have alarmed some Democrats, El-Sayed dismissed the issue as disconnected from voters' priorities, according to the Times.

"They really don't care about that," he said. "Nobody asks me that question."

Republicans, meanwhile, are trying to make El-Sayed a national symbol of left-leaning Democrats. Vice President JD Vance reportedly told House Republicans on Tuesday that if the Democrat they're running against is "not that crazy, then just talk about Abdul El-Sayed."

El-Sayed welcomed the attention and sought to redirect the contest toward affordability.

"Fine, talk about me," he said. "You know what I'm going to talk about? Gas, groceries, how hard it is to see a doctor."

The strategy comes as affordability has become a major midterm issue.

Americans continue to face elevated grocery, gasoline, and housing costs. Amid the Iran conflict, fuel prices have risen and economic uncertainty has increased, conditions that El-Sayed and other Democrats are making central to their campaigns.

James Morley III ✉

James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature. 

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