Harris throws support behind El-Sayed in Michigan: 'I proudly stand with him'
The Hill · C · trust 35/100
Comments: by Sarah Davis - 08/07/26 12:00 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Sarah Davis - 08/07/26 12:00 PM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING Former Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s Senate race, on Friday.
“Dr. Abdul El-Sayed understands that the power is with the people, and that the stakes couldn’t be higher in this election,” Harris said in a statement.
“While Michiganders struggle to afford everyday essentials — housing, gas, groceries, health care, and child care — Trump and Republicans in Congress are giving away $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthy and powerful,” she continued. “Abdul knows that we need bold solutions to the crises facing America’s working families, and he is ready to take on this fight. I proudly stand with him to ensure we win a Democratic Senate majority in November.”
Harris is the latest in a string of establishment Democrats to announce their support for the populist candidate. El-Sayed narrowly beat Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) in the state’s Democratic primary on Tuesday and is set to face former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) in November.
El-Sayed praised Harris in a statement released Friday in conjunction with her endorsement.
“Her support in this race is critical to building an unstoppable coalition against Rogers, Trump, and their assault on our rights and democracy,” the Senate hopeful said. “Just like I stood with her in her effort to defeat Trump, I’m so humbled and grateful for her support in this race to defeat his minion Mike Rogers.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), who had endorsed Stevens in the primary contest, backed El-Sayed after his victory this week. The populist candidate has said he would vote to replace Schumer as Senate Democratic leader if elected in November.
In a joint statement with Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Schumer expressed confidence in El-Sayed’s chances against Rogers.
“Democrats are united by a common purpose: putting a check on Donald Trump by defeating his Republican enablers and taking back the Senate,” Schumer and Gillibrand wrote. “We look forward to working with Abdul and Democrats across Michigan to win this seat in November.”
White House communications director Steven Cheung slammed Harris’s endorsement in a social media post responding to a CNN report about a potential presidential bid from the Democrat in 2028.
“Kamala Harris, who lost by a landslide, should really re-evaluate her life choices before running for president again,” Cheung wrote in a Friday morning post .
“She was humiliatingly and embarrassingly defeated, despite the entire media industrial complex backing her,” he continued. “She’s now banking far left by endorsing Communists like Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed. What a Dope!”
El-Sayed has rejected labels such as “democratic socialist” and “communist” and has defined himself as a progressive populist.
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