From NBC News · The Politics Desk · · 2m
Michigan Senate race signals 2028 direction for Democrats
How Abdul El-Sayed's campaign against Mike Rogers will shape whether Democrats sprint left or pump the brakes in the next presidential race.
In brief
How Abdul El-Sayed's campaign against Mike Rogers will shape whether Democrats sprint left or pump the brakes in the next presidential race. Democratic presidential hopefuls are using the Michigan Senate race as a test case to decide whether progressive candidates can win in swing states. Originally reported by NBC…
2028 hopefuls flock to Michigan
Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, and Mark Kelly are all campaigning for Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. They're using his race to build relationships with the party's left wing while helping Democrats retake the Senate.
El-Sayed's race tests progressive viability
Michigan is a crucial swing state. If El-Sayed wins, progressives will claim they've proven a Bernie Sanders-style candidate can win nationally. If he loses, mainstream Democrats will argue swing states reject far-left candidates.
2020 offers a cautionary tale
In 2018, Democratic hopefuls read progressive primary wins as a signal to embrace Medicare for All. But Joe Biden won by resisting those calls and focusing on electability. Democrats may repeat this pattern in 2028.
Stock trading becomes universal attack
Congressional stock trading is dominating ads across nearly every competitive House and Senate race. Both parties are attacking incumbents for allegedly using their position to get rich during an affordability crisis.
Corruption resonates across party lines
At least one ad mentioning stock trading has run in the last month in 18 of 21 House toss-ups and all but one Senate toss-up. The issue works equally well in red, blue, and purple districts because voters across the spectrum oppose government corruption.
Incumbents face dual attack strategy
Some members of Congress are airing ads supporting a stock trading ban while opponents simultaneously run ads detailing the trades they made. This one-two punch makes it harder for incumbents to defend their records.
Republicans break with Trump on key issues
Michigan Republicans are diverging from Trump on Iran policy, artificial intelligence regulation, and data center development. These splits show the party isn't monolithic heading into 2028.
What to remember
Democratic presidential hopefuls are using the Michigan Senate race as a test case to decide whether progressive candidates can win in swing states.
