California Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to travel to the key swing state of Michigan this weekend, where he will campaign for Democrats following progressive Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in the party’s Senate primary.
The trip underscores Newsom’s growing effort to build a broader national profile as he continues to fuel speculation about a possible 2028 presidential campaign.
It also highlights his increasingly progressive positioning, coming after he voiced support in June for a national tax on billionaires.
Newsom’s political team has framed the Michigan visit as part of a push to support Democratic candidates heading into November’s midterm elections, though the stop also inserts him into one of the most closely watched political contests of the cycle.
The governor moved swiftly to back El-Sayed after the former public health official edged out Rep. Haley Stevens in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
“Congratulations @AbdulElSayed on a hard-fought victory!” Newsom posted on X. “Trump and the GOP are trying everything to rig the rules and silence voters — but they can’t stop a Democratic Party united around working people and accountability.
“On to November! Let’s take our country back,” he continued.
According to Newsom’s team, the California governor contacted El-Sayed after the primary and offered his endorsement once the race had been called.
It remains unclear whether the pair will appear together during the governor’s visit, which aides say had already been scheduled before Tuesday’s election.
During the trip, Newsom is expected to campaign alongside several Michigan Democrats, including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor, while also helping legislative candidates hoping to flip control of the Michigan House. He is also slated to meet with black community leaders and younger Democratic activists.
The visit comes as El-Sayed’s upset victory has ignited a fierce debate within the Democratic Party over whether progressive candidates can win competitive statewide races — and whether Newsom is embracing a nominee whose positions and controversies could become fodder for Republicans heading into the midterms and beyond.
The Michigan race became one of the nastiest and most expensive Democratic primaries in recent memory.
El-Sayed, who rejected corporate PAC money, overcame a barrage of outside spending — including more than $30 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s United Democracy Project super PAC backing Stevens — and television advertising that outspent his campaign by roughly 11-to-1 before eking out a razor-thin 48.5% to 47.5% victory.
The pair traded increasingly personal attacks during the campaign’s final weeks, with El-Sayed accusing Stevens of leaning on a “$60 million corporate crutch” while Stevens blasted his positions on the Middle East.
El-Sayed has drawn fierce criticism over his calls to abolish ICE, support for Medicare for All and repeated criticism of Israel, with Republicans casting him as part of a growing crop of left-wing “Mini Mamdanis” following his upset primary victory.
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned on X that voters must stop the US from being “overrun by Mini Mamdanis,” while Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) argued the Michigan primary results were “making it easier on Republicans” heading into November.
The progressive physician has also come under renewed scrutiny after Fox News Digital reported that his campaign accepted more than $115,000 from current and former officials and leaders affiliated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR.
The organization has been designated a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates and has been formally labeled as such in Florida and Texas, though it rejects those characterizations.
Among the donors identified by Fox were CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad — who sparked outrage after saying he was “happy” following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel — and El-Sayed’s father-in-law, Jukaku Tayeb, a CAIR-Michigan board member. El-Sayed’s campaign has not alleged any wrongdoing regarding the donations.
El-Sayed, who supports abolishing ICE and Medicare for All and has drawn scrutiny over past comments on Israel, will face Republican Mike Rogers in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate contests in November.
Democrats view the seat as essential if they hope to wrest control of the Senate from Republicans.
The Michigan stop is the latest in Newsom’s increasingly aggressive national political tour, placing the governor alongside one of the Democrats’ most controversial new nominees as speculation swirls that he is positioning himself for a 2028 White House bid.
Just weeks ago, Newsom traveled to another key swing state, Nevada, where he campaigned for Democratic candidates in competitive statewide races.
Earlier this year, he embarked on a nationwide tour promoting his memoir, making appearances in states including New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Nevada while using his political organizations to raise millions of dollars for Democratic candidates.
His travels have also extended overseas this year, with stops in Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom, where he met with foreign leaders and promoted California’s climate agenda.
Critics have accused Newsom of spending more time cultivating a national profile than governing California, arguing his frequent out-of-state travel amounts to an unofficial presidential campaign.
Newsom has repeatedly declined to say whether he will seek the White House in 2028, insisting his immediate focus is helping Democrats regain control of Congress.
His political organization says it has raised more than $1.7 million for Democratic candidates and state parties this year, including about $160,000 for the Michigan Democratic Party.
The governor is expected to remain in Michigan from Saturday through Monday as Democrats look to capitalize on momentum from Tuesday’s primary victories while Republicans sharpen their attacks on the party’s progressive wing.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
