Multiple Senate Democrats are rallying behind Abdul el Sayed, the Democratic nominee for an open Senate seat in Michigan, after meeting with him behind closed doors on Wednesday.
El Sayed greeted Democratic senators in Washington as he runs against Trump-backed Republican nominee Mike Rogers this fall. The meeting was separate from a special caucus lunch that will be held at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s office on Thursday, according to Punchbowl News. El Sayed is not expected to attend the lunch.
Following the initial meeting, several Democratic lawmakers spoke highly of the Michigan candidate. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) said they had a “great conversation” with el Sayed, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), the DSCC chairwoman, revealed she and her colleagues strongly support his campaign.
“He’s a great candidate. He’s going to win, and we’re all united,” Gillibrand said, adding that Senate Democrats will help him beat Rogers in November.
After leaving the meeting, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) said he is going to fundraise for el Sayed. Additionally, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) disclosed he plans to campaign with the Michigan Democrat in a “couple weeks.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) expounded on why the Democratic Party believes el Sayed will win the general election.
“Abdul is a really good candidate,” Murphy told reporters. “Mike Rogers is a joke, a guy who continues to cheerlead or who’s going to be a rubber stamp for Donald Trump. Abdul sees this world as a fight between worker power and corporate power. Frankly, we need more people like that in the United States Senate.”
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) similarly expressed confidence that el Sayed will be elected to the Senate, with the senator saying he looks forward to “welcoming him to our team in January.”
Even Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) was won over by el Sayed, who defeated the incumbent’s preferred successor, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), in the Aug. 4 primary election.
“It’s clear that Abdul has wind in his sails right now,” Peters said. “I think now it’s just a question of how strong that wind is, but he is running a really good race.”
The retiring senator previously told the Washington Examiner that he plans to stump for el Sayed in October.
The Senate race is extremely competitive, as seen in the latest polls. El Sayed is largely leading Rogers, but either candidate’s chances of victory could shift in the coming weeks.
Both candidates are prepared to make their case to Michigan voters during two televised debates next month. One is scheduled for Oct. 8, and the other is set to take place on Oct. 21. El Sayed criticized Rogers for skipping Tuesday’s debate. Rogers said he never agreed to it, characterizing the forum as a “town hall” rather than a debate.
MIKE ROGERS REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATE OVER MODERATOR’S ‘BIAS’
President Donald Trump and Rogers, along with the rest of the Republican Party, have been ramping up their attacks against el Sayed’s progressive views, his ties to anti-Israel commentator Hasan Piker, and the candidate’s Muslim faith. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) dismissed their attempts to tie all Democrats to el Sayed.
“There was a time when Republicans tried to tie Democrats to a man whose name was Barack Hussein Obama,” Durbin said. “It didn’t work.”