Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) will hit the campaign trail in Michigan next weekend for a left-wing Senate challenger.
According to local reports, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez will embark on their “The People vs. The Powerful” tour in Michigan from July 18 to 19. They will appear with Abdul el Sayed, who is now one of two Democrats vying for the party’s nomination to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI).
El Sayed, 41, is a former health director of Wayne County, which includes Detroit. Born in Michigan to Egyptian parents, he has made opposition to Israel a centerpiece of his 2026 Senate campaign against Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), who has the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and establishment Democrats.
A Tavern Research poll conducted from July 6 to 7 showed Stevens and el Sayed in a statistical tie, with 42% and 41% support, respectively. Compared with earlier polls, the Tavern survey showed significantly fewer Michigan Democrats were undecided after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow dropped out of the primary.
Stevens and el Sayed sparred over Israel, their financial backers, and the electability of left-wing candidates in a July 7 debate.
MICHIGAN SENATE DEBATE: EL SAYED AND STEVENS SLAM EACH OTHER OVER FINANCIAL INTERESTS
Sanders has already campaigned with el Sayed this year, as the two appeared together at a May 3 rally in Detroit. Ocasio-Cortez has been more cautious than her progressive mentor in the 2026 campaign cycle, as she refrained from endorsing scandal-plagued Graham Platner in Maine and waited until July 2 to back el Sayed.
AOC has spent her career taking on the powerful on behalf of everyday people, and she has shown all of us what courageous, smart, values-driven leadership looks like. I’m deeply honored to earn her endorsement. Onward to victory.
2018
2026 pic.twitter.com/5U149jlP44
— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) July 2, 2026
The Michigan Democratic Senate primary is on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Either el Sayed or Stevens will face former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary.