WASHINGTON — Top Democrats are moving quickly to rally behind Michigan Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, as party leaders seek to project unity ahead of November. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to appear with El-Sayed on Monday, while former President Barack Obama has also reached out to him by phone.
The high-profile show of support appears aimed at reassuring moderate Democrats in Michigan who may have been wary of El-Sayed’s progressive profile during a hard-fought Senate primary, while urging the party’s broader coalition to line up behind him for the general election.
Newsom, widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, praised El-Sayed as a “fighter” and argued that Democrats must close ranks at what he described as an “existential” moment for the country.
“House races are important, but the Senate is in play, and it will go through this state. So, getting behind him is going to be important,” Newsom told reporters during his visit to Michigan. “It’s going to be a very tough race in November.”
El-Sayed’s primary contest against Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) was cast by many political observers as a “battle for the soul of the Democratic Party,” with a more establishment-aligned candidate facing off against a progressive challenger.
El-Sayed’s ties to prominent figures on the left, including Twitch streamer Hasan Piker — who once said that “America deserved 9/11” — have fueled perceptions that he and Newsom appeal to different wings of the Democratic Party.
Newsom, however, pushed back on that framing, describing himself instead as an “insurgent insider.”
“This notion of insurgency over incumbency is the real message here. People just want fighters; they want people with conviction, strength, sincerity,” Newsom added. “I totally respect that.”
“I’ve long felt like I’ve been an established insurgent.”
The California Democrat has been working to build up his credibility with the progressive base after alienating it during his time as governor by vetoing certain pieces of legislation and opposing goals such as a temporary statewide wealth tax on billionaires.
Newsom said he drew some inspiration from former President Barack Obama’s call with El-Sayed last week to make overtures to him.
“It was a really warm and inspiring conversation,” El-Sayed told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday about his call with the 44th president.
“I know that he knows the critical role that Michigan is going to play in holding Trump accountable, in winning back the Senate, and in building forward the future that we need.”
Last week, Democrats in Michigan held a unity rally, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joining the rally to whip up support for El-Sayed.
Looming over the push to coalesce around El-Sayed are fears that the bruising primary battle could leave Democrats divided in the Senate race come November.
“Whoever comes out of it is going to have a coalition problem. Remember, voting starts in about five or six weeks. We’re in an election cycle now,” Republican Senate hopeful Mike Rogers told The Post last week.
Last week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer gave a tepid endorsement of El-Sayed, despite the latter being uncommitted to backing him as Senate Dem leader.
Schumer had backed Stevens in the primary, indicating that he viewed her as the more electable candidate of the two. But the top Senate Dem said that he still thinks El-Sayed can win the general election.
“Keep talking about jobs, talking about lower costs, talking about corruption — the same things that our candidates talk about across the country,” Schumer said of his advice to El-Sayed when asked by the Washington Post.
