Abdul El-Sayed’s Drive to Win Black Voters in Michigan’s Senate Contest

Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has centered his late-stage campaign on rebuilding support among Black voters after a primary in which they “overwhelmingly backed his opponent.” The effort unfolds against lingering Black-Arab friction in Detroit and Dearborn and a wave of Republican attacks linking his family and religion to extremist groups.

Boston Globe

• In the August Democratic primary, former Rep. Haley Stevens led El-Sayed among Black voters, especially those >55, while El-Sayed performed better with younger, college-educated voters of all races. July polling showed 21 % of Black voters supporting El-Sayed versus 67 % for Stevens.

Newsweek

• The 2024 presidential election deepened Black-Arab divides: former President Donald Trump narrowly won Dearborn, a city now majority Arab American, after President Joe Biden’s pro-Israel stance sparked anger among Arab Democrats.

Boston Globe

• Black voters comprise roughly 11-12 % of Michigan’s electorate.

Newsweek

• A Washington Post-Schar School poll (803 likely voters, Sept. 10-14) found 83 % of Black voters wanted Democrats to control the Senate, but only 67 % said they would vote for El-Sayed.

Newsweek

• A Fox News poll (crosstabs Sept. 24-28) reported around 77 % of likely Black voters supported El-Sayed.

Newsweek

• He publicly disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood, stating, “I clearly disavow the movement,” and described himself as “a man of faith” who prays daily.

New York Times

• Representative Ayanna Pressley endorsed El-Sayed, noting his willingness to engage in “hard conversations” about community tensions.

New York Times

• Republican nominee Mike Rogers highlighted his own outreach to Black neighborhoods, claiming his campaign makes the Black community “a priority.”

Boston Globe

• Marcus Bowman, a Black school-board member in Pontiac, praised Rogers’s focus on Black voters, while JD Chapman, a nonprofit director, remained skeptical of El-Sayed’s trustworthiness despite his civil-rights references.

Boston Globe

• Polling shows divergent levels of Black support: 21 % in July primary polls, 67 % in a September Washington Post-Schar School poll, and ? 77 % in a Fox News poll. The sources do not explain the rapid shift, leaving a gap in understanding how campaign activities translated into voter sentiment.

Newsweek

• No source provides a precise count of Black-voter attendance at El-Sayed’s town-hall events, despite his claim of visiting “every one of your cities.”

Newsweek

• “To appeal to black voters in Michigan, Abdul El Sayed orders fried chicken,” — Eric Daugherty

Newsweek

• “I’ll just tell you, through the course of the primary, I’ve actually been to every one of your cities,” — Dr. Abdul El-Sayed

Newsweek

The November election will determine whether El-Sayed secures a Senate seat and potentially becomes the first Muslim senator, a result that could shape the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. The campaign’s next televised debate and continued grassroots outreach to Black communities are expected to be pivotal in the final weeks.

Newsweek