I, too, wouldn't count El-Sayed out because of all the positive things you pointed out he is talented, presents well and is charismatic. He shares many of those qualities with Mamdani. Neither come off as aggressive and willing to market their ideas as opposed to many DSAs who seem to demand people accept their ideas as the best and only solution to problems. Also they seem to be natural, at ease in their own skins, approachable and LIKABLE and they share those qualities with Obama and Pete Buttiegeg. They are smart without being "smarties"
So while I would not write off Michigan looking across Lake Michigan at Wisconsin I see a disaster brewing there. The likely DCA/Democratic nominee has none of the qualities that helped Mamdani and may help El-Sayed and has a ton of crazy talk baggage she can't just spin as anything but what it is. It is doubly unfortunate because her Republican opponent (and likely winner) is an election denier and he will have control of the Republican gerrymandered Wisconsin legislature and will be committed to winning Wisconsin's electoral votes for whoever the Republican replacing Trump will be.
Mr. El-Sayed advocates for health care for all. He has a proven record as a public servant, one with the kitchen table interests of the electorate in mind. He decries war on civilians.
And folks object??!! Wake up America, this is the kind of elected you so desperately need.
I’m a centrist Democrat. I was leaning Haley until I watched her dodge questions about Israel and her big money donors. I didn’t like Abdul’s position on some issues but when asked he didn’t back down and explained them. He seems like he would wipe the floor in a debate with Rogers. He has a good message. No big donors and not a rubber stamp for Trump. I was undecided until hours before I voted. I went with Abdul. Even if he loses I won’t regret it. Stevens is my congresswoman and I’ve just never been impressed with her.
You need validation? Really? Come on JVL, at least here on this forum you have MAGA level approval. Fortunately you deserve most of it.
More importantly, your analysis of the MI election seems to be thorough and on point.
I know little about Rogers, but in a normal election I might vote for him vs a quasi Democratic “socialist”. But this is not a normal election. Control of the Senate could alter the future of our country. Surely we can live with another far left senator for the foreseeable future.
I don’t really understand the polls. Stevens had a ton of money and the full support of the party oldsters. Every flyer I received (up here in Traverse City) was from Stevens or AIPAC. They did not discuss her platform; they either touted her experience with Obama’s auto task force (Zzzzz) or called El Sayed a misogynist (grrrrr). El Sayed is an extremely talented politician. You point out the boxes he needs to check and I believe he will. It helps that Rogers is 💯Trump and left, right or center, we Dems are not going to let that happen.
I consider myself just left of center, but find I agree with El Sayed regarding the need for universal healthcare because it is an investment in our most important capital - human capital…and because it is morally right. I also agree ICE is so far gone it may need to be “abolished” and perhaps replaced. My husband is Jewish and therefore I am “Jewish adjacent” and we both agree we should no longer provide unconditional aid to Israel, no matter what. I hope you are right that he has a decent chance of winning despite the attacks he will be getting from the right claiming he is a communist and appealing to religious intolerance. We need to vote for the Democrat, even if we hold our nose in order to put a stop to Trump‘s criminal spree.
PS thank you for putting the like and comment buttons at the bottom of the piece again.
When I was 10,(1946) I went to the voting place in Bayview Terrace, Pacific Beach, CA with my Mother when she went to vote for Harry Truman…. Her friend did not go, Dewey WAS going to be the WINNER!…. She did not need to go…. My mother ALWAYS voted!
When Obama and Hillary were running in the Primaries…. A young black woman came to my door and told me, ‘1st time ever involved’ I had been torn, as a woman (Hilary) and as a real chance for an articulate rather amazing man whose speech at the Democratic Convention some years before had ‘fired me up with hope and joy and wonder’ (Obama)…. She tipped the choice…Obama ….
I was nervous about this primary, but I certainly hope El-Sayed can win. He overcame a mountain of AIPAC money, which is impressive. I hear over and over again Americans are sick of not just Trump, but of both parties and the status quo. They want a change, something different. We here he is, along with the other DSA candidates. I don’t agree with them on everything, but their greatest interest is economic and helping working people. Talking about socialism and communism, why isn’t there more of an uproar over the government taking a stake in public companies and the Republicans who shrug over it.
How a Democrat can win in MI is difficult. Ideology has nothing to do with it. They need the Afro-American voters to show up. Look at the voting preferences last night and it matches racial patterns perfectly. Outsiders focus on Arab-Jewish voting patterns in MI. More important is Arab-Afro-American voting relations. Until recently (last night), I believe most Arab-Americans in MI voted Republican. MI recently had an Arab-American Senator; the talented Republican, Spencer Abraham. If the Democrats know how to do it, and it won't be ideology, they can elect a Senator.
I, too, wouldn't count El-Sayed out because of all the positive things you pointed out he is talented, presents well and is charismatic. He shares many of those qualities with Mamdani. Neither come off as aggressive and willing to market their ideas as opposed to many DSAs who seem to demand people accept their ideas as the best and only solution to problems. Also they seem to be natural, at ease in their own skins, approachable and LIKABLE and they share those qualities with Obama and Pete Buttiegeg. They are smart without being "smarties"
So while I would not write off Michigan looking across Lake Michigan at Wisconsin I see a disaster brewing there. The likely DCA/Democratic nominee has none of the qualities that helped Mamdani and may help El-Sayed and has a ton of crazy talk baggage she can't just spin as anything but what it is. It is doubly unfortunate because her Republican opponent (and likely winner) is an election denier and he will have control of the Republican gerrymandered Wisconsin legislature and will be committed to winning Wisconsin's electoral votes for whoever the Republican replacing Trump will be.
Depressed to wake up in NZ to this latest news.
Thank you for your hopeful piece..
Mr. El-Sayed advocates for health care for all. He has a proven record as a public servant, one with the kitchen table interests of the electorate in mind. He decries war on civilians.
And folks object??!! Wake up America, this is the kind of elected you so desperately need.
I am glad that Abdul won. Now he needs to move a bit to the center to pick up independent voters.
My attitude is, it’s time for change. We need new blood and fresh ideas. I don’t give a damn if someone is Muslim, white, green, atheist, whatever!
If they are for the greater good, and willing to fight hard against authoritarianism, then I’m giving them a chance.
The general election will show if El-Sayed and others can go all the way.
But there is too much emphasis on line on the "AI". It's the power of the last 3 letters, the "PAC" that has to be crushed -- all of them.
Republican voters are going to stay home unless they’re MAGAts. El-Sayed might go more to the middle for the general election. He’s awfully appealing.
May I encourage you to read this article to help you potentially change the way you characterize people who voted for Trump?
https://anandwrites.substack.com/p/what-abdul-el-sayed-believes?r=2y1hd&utm_medium=ios
May I encourage you to read this article to help you potentially change the way you characterize people who voted for Trump?
https://anandwrites.substack.com/p/what-abdul-el-sayed-believes?r=2y1hd&utm_medium=ios
I’m a centrist Democrat. I was leaning Haley until I watched her dodge questions about Israel and her big money donors. I didn’t like Abdul’s position on some issues but when asked he didn’t back down and explained them. He seems like he would wipe the floor in a debate with Rogers. He has a good message. No big donors and not a rubber stamp for Trump. I was undecided until hours before I voted. I went with Abdul. Even if he loses I won’t regret it. Stevens is my congresswoman and I’ve just never been impressed with her.
You need validation? Really? Come on JVL, at least here on this forum you have MAGA level approval. Fortunately you deserve most of it.
More importantly, your analysis of the MI election seems to be thorough and on point.
I know little about Rogers, but in a normal election I might vote for him vs a quasi Democratic “socialist”. But this is not a normal election. Control of the Senate could alter the future of our country. Surely we can live with another far left senator for the foreseeable future.
Hayley Stevens has been very gracious and she can be enormously helpful in convincing her Black supporters to vote Democratic in the general
I don’t really understand the polls. Stevens had a ton of money and the full support of the party oldsters. Every flyer I received (up here in Traverse City) was from Stevens or AIPAC. They did not discuss her platform; they either touted her experience with Obama’s auto task force (Zzzzz) or called El Sayed a misogynist (grrrrr). El Sayed is an extremely talented politician. You point out the boxes he needs to check and I believe he will. It helps that Rogers is 💯Trump and left, right or center, we Dems are not going to let that happen.
I consider myself just left of center, but find I agree with El Sayed regarding the need for universal healthcare because it is an investment in our most important capital - human capital…and because it is morally right. I also agree ICE is so far gone it may need to be “abolished” and perhaps replaced. My husband is Jewish and therefore I am “Jewish adjacent” and we both agree we should no longer provide unconditional aid to Israel, no matter what. I hope you are right that he has a decent chance of winning despite the attacks he will be getting from the right claiming he is a communist and appealing to religious intolerance. We need to vote for the Democrat, even if we hold our nose in order to put a stop to Trump‘s criminal spree.
PS thank you for putting the like and comment buttons at the bottom of the piece again.
When I was 10,(1946) I went to the voting place in Bayview Terrace, Pacific Beach, CA with my Mother when she went to vote for Harry Truman…. Her friend did not go, Dewey WAS going to be the WINNER!…. She did not need to go…. My mother ALWAYS voted!
When Obama and Hillary were running in the Primaries…. A young black woman came to my door and told me, ‘1st time ever involved’ I had been torn, as a woman (Hilary) and as a real chance for an articulate rather amazing man whose speech at the Democratic Convention some years before had ‘fired me up with hope and joy and wonder’ (Obama)…. She tipped the choice…Obama ….
G O T T A GO With HOPE…. G O T T A!
I was nervous about this primary, but I certainly hope El-Sayed can win. He overcame a mountain of AIPAC money, which is impressive. I hear over and over again Americans are sick of not just Trump, but of both parties and the status quo. They want a change, something different. We here he is, along with the other DSA candidates. I don’t agree with them on everything, but their greatest interest is economic and helping working people. Talking about socialism and communism, why isn’t there more of an uproar over the government taking a stake in public companies and the Republicans who shrug over it.
Dems are leading "generic ballot" polling big time. That should boost El-Sayed.
How a Democrat can win in MI is difficult. Ideology has nothing to do with it. They need the Afro-American voters to show up. Look at the voting preferences last night and it matches racial patterns perfectly. Outsiders focus on Arab-Jewish voting patterns in MI. More important is Arab-Afro-American voting relations. Until recently (last night), I believe most Arab-Americans in MI voted Republican. MI recently had an Arab-American Senator; the talented Republican, Spencer Abraham. If the Democrats know how to do it, and it won't be ideology, they can elect a Senator.