Former Vice President Kamala Harris Will Make Her First Public Campaign Appearance With Michigan Democratic Senate Nominee Abdul El-Sayed
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is heading back to Michigan next week, where she will campaign alongside Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and participate in a roundtable focused on Black maternal health.
The Tuesday appearance will mark the first time Harris and El-Sayed have appeared publicly together since she endorsed him following his Democratic primary victory. The two have spoken several times since the primary, according to the Associated Press.
Harris spokesperson Eduardo Negrón said the former vice president is returning to Michigan to help mobilize voters ahead of the November midterm elections.
“Vice President Harris looks forward to returning to Michigan to help turn out the vote in this critical state,” Negrón said. “It is critical we flip the Senate so we can bring down prices and stand up to Donald Trump’s corruption.”
Harris And El-Sayed To Discuss Black Maternal Health
The pair’s roundtable will focus on Black maternal health, an issue Harris has highlighted throughout her national political career.
El-Sayed brings a public health background to the discussion. A physician, he previously led Detroit’s health department and later served as director of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services.
During her Michigan trip, Harris is also expected to meet with local elected officials and the Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit branch of the NAACP.
Michigan Senate Race Carries National Stakes
El-Sayed is running against Republican Mike Rogers, a former member of Congress, for the seat currently held by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
Michigan is an important piece of Democrats’ effort to gain control of the Senate. Democrats need to retain the Michigan seat while flipping four Republican-held seats to secure a majority, according to AP.
Republicans have made El-Sayed a prominent target in the midterms, repeatedly attacking his progressive politics. GOP officials, including President Donald Trump, have described him as an extremist, while Rogers has made an unsupported allegation linking El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed, who would become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate if he wins, has sought to keep his campaign focused on issues including health care, gas prices, trade and Michigan’s economy.
Democratic leaders have meanwhile worked to bring the party together following El-Sayed’s contentious primary against U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a contest that exposed disagreements among Michigan Democrats, particularly over U.S. policy toward Israel.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg campaigned in Detroit in August and called on Democrats to unite behind the party’s candidates. Harris’ appearance represents another high-profile effort to consolidate support around El-Sayed heading into November.
Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, has also remained active nationally since losing that election to Trump. Michigan is scheduled to be the fifth state to vote in the next Democratic presidential primary.
