Left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed is now leading Michigan’s Democratic Party primary for U.S. Senate, according to a new poll.
It finds El-Sayed has emerged as the race’s clear frontrunner with 28% support, ahead of U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens at 18% and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow at 17%.
El-Sayed, a former Detroit and Wayne County health official who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018, said the poll shows voters want change from the Democratic Party.
“For too long, too many Michiganders have felt like no one in our politics sees them, hears them, or is willing to fight for them. This campaign has always been about changing that,” El-Sayed said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to every Michigander who has shared their story, come to an event, volunteered, or taken a chance on this campaign. This momentum belongs to the folks who built it.”
Previous polls showed the Michigan U.S. Senate Democratic Party primary in a dead heat. The new poll was conducted May 1-7 by MIRS and Mitchell Research & Communications.
It follows weeks of attacks from rivals, the centrist Democratic establishment, and the mainstream media over El-Sayed’s decision to campaign with Hasan Piker — a popular left-wing streamer and vocal critic of U.S. support for Israel whom some have accused of antisemitism. (Piker has repeatedly denounced antisemitism.)
The attacks appear to have backfired spectacularly.
“It is very clear that one of the most important factors in El-Sayed’s movement up in the polls is the support he is receiving from far left progressives who very strongly oppose United States and Israeli intervention in both Gaza and Iran,” Steve Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell Research & Communications, said in a statement. “His support really bumped up after the endorsement by Hasan Piker. It will be interesting to see whether this is enough support to allow him to win.”
A recent Gallup poll found U.S. support for Israel waning.
Also during the polling period, the popular Vermont senator Bernie Sanders endorsed El-Sayed and U.S. House candidate Donnovan McKinney at a packed rally at Detroit’s Mumford High School, with some 1,360 supporters in attendance.
El-Sayed, who was born in Detroit to Egyptian immigrants, has criticized U.S. aid to Israel and its involvement in wars in the Middle East. A doctor and medical school graduate from the University of Michigan, he also supports the creation of a universal healthcare system in the U.S., known as Medicare for All. He has pledged to refuse corporate donations to his campaign, which has large grassroots support.
The poll found El-Sayed leading among both men and women, especially with young people: among people ages 18-44, El-Sayed (80%) leads Stevens (4%) and McMorrow (3%).
The same poll found McMorrow (26%) leading El-Sayed (23%) and Stevens (6%) among 45-64 year olds, and Stevens (26%) leading El-Sayed (18%) and McMorrow (16%) among voters ages 65 and older.
The poll also found voters support Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for governor, with 62% support and 30% undecided.
El-Sayed is campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Gary Peters, who announced his retirement last year. Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary is Aug. 4, and the winner will likely compete with Republican Mike Rogers in the Nov. 3 general election.
Related story
Sanders backs El-Sayed and McKinney for U.S. Congress at packed Detroit rally
The Democratic Party establishment’s attempt to cancel Abdul El-Sayed appears to have fallen flat. More…
