Clyburn Backs El-Sayed as Stevens Switches to Republican in Michigan
Despite a split in Democratic leadership, polling shows El-Sayed retains a 65-point lead among Black voters in the state.
By Arjun Weber ·
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) declared on Sunday that he stands behind Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race, directly contradicting his earlier support for Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.). Clyburn made the statement outside Northend Church of God in Detroit, positioning El-Sayed as the candidate who best represents the Democratic Party's inclusive mission.
The endorsement came hours after Stevens shocked the political establishment by reversing her support for El-Sayed and announcing she would back former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate. Stevens framed her switch around concerns about El-Sayed's connection to the Black community, specifically citing an advertisement featuring conservative commentator Tucker Carlson as an insult to congregants.
National Democratic leaders have criticized Stevens for the reversal, while Republican figures, including President Donald Trump, have praised her decision. However, ground-level sentiment in Michigan suggests the internal party drama is not dividing the Black electorate. Charnita Croskey, a remote analyst in Pontiac, stated that nearly every Black person she knows supports El-Sayed, citing his advocacy for Social Security.
Polling data supports the perception of unity among Black voters. A recent CNN survey found El-Sayed winning the demographic by 65 percentage points. This margin is nearly identical to the 67-point lead held by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson among Black voters. El-Sayed himself downplayed Stevens' endorsement, stating that he does not think about her and that the noise is a distraction from the main race.
Republicans are actively targeting perceived weaknesses in El-Sayed's base. Rogers opened a campaign office in Detroit in mid-October to facilitate outreach to Black voters. A Republican group has sent text messages to Black voters arguing that El-Sayed has been disrespectful to the community. Rogers said at the office opening that current circumstances allow for a conversation he likely could not have had previously.
El-Sayed's campaign has emphasized its extensive outreach, claiming he visited more than 45 Black churches and attended at least 100 events with community leaders. The Congressional Black Caucus political action committee endorsed El-Sayed in September, even though many of its members had supported Stevens in the primary. El-Sayed also held a roundtable on Black maternal health with former Vice President Kamala Harris and rallied with former President Barack Obama in Detroit last month.
At a campaign cookout in Pontiac, a city where 43% of the population is Black, dozens of voters and elected officials gathered to support El-Sayed. Attendees sang his birthday song as he turned 42, with some performing a Stevie Wonder rendition of the tune. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) attended the event and said El-Sayed will make a tremendous difference in the Senate by changing the direction of the country to one where all people are included.
Pontiac City Commissioner Angela Powell linked the campaign's challenges to rising racism, stating she has never seen as much hatred on the trail. She noted that El-Sayed understands these struggles and that the Democratic ticket honors the ancestors who fought for freedom.
