Voters in Detroit tell the Michigan Chronicle on Election Day it’s exciting that Michigan is the main character in American politics on Tuesday.
Tuesday, Aug. 4, is Election Day across the state, and the U.S. Senate primary between Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens has captured the attention of Democrats across the country.
Stevens represents the establishment wing of the Democratic Party, El-Sayed is backed by progressives.
Stevens has focused her campaign on her work with former President Obama during the auto industry bailout. She’s also touted her work helping pass the Chips and Science Act during the pandemic. She has said she would ensure voting protections and holding accountable corrupt Trump administration officials. El-Sayed has said he would encourage the Supreme Court to overturn Citizens United, advocate for the passage of universal healthcare and get rid of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) altogether.
The two are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to American support for Israel. Stevens has long opposed any restrictions to arming the right-wing government. El-Sayed calls the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack a genocide.
Ryan Mikulak of East English Village told Michigan Chronicle he backed El-Sayed because, “He just represents more of what I believe. (Stevens) seems kind of two-faced, and where she’s gotten her from… The way that he speaks about things just appeals to me more.”
Mikulak said he also voted for Donavan McKinney, a state lawmaker from Detroit, is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar. Thanedar is looking to win another term after successful elections since 2022. Detroit’s Black political establishment is backing McKinney, and so is the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have been knocking doors and passing out literature across Detroit’s 13th Congressional District in support of McKinney in the days leading up to the election to defeat a former member of the group.
Some Democrats are fearful the appearance of a far left Democratic Party would hurt their chances with independent and middle of the road voters come November.
At Bethany Lutheran Church on East Outer Drive in Detroit, 85 voters had cast ballots as of about 3:30pm. Two of those voters were Eugenia and Rob Kolec of Detroit.
“I don’t think Abdul can beat Mike Rogers,” Eugenia Kolec told Michigan Chronicle.
Nancy Gibbs, another early voter who spoke to Michigan Chronicle at Campus Martius last week said she voted for Stevens because, “I think she would represent people who are working everyday — I’m retired now, but I think she would be good for the state of Michigan.”
Eastsider Marietta Lemmons wouldn’t reveal who she voted for, but offered a prayer to each candidate, and “that we get out of this whirlwind that we are in the United States.”
At the Michigan Secretary of State briefing at 3pm Tuesday, the department reported turnout is steady and voting is happening without major incident. Returned absentee voter ballots are at 1.2 million, exceeding 2022’s total by 13%.
Voters at an early voting site at the Northwest Activities Center over the weekend said they planned to vote for El-Sayed because he represented “something different.”
“We need changes,” James Cotton told Michigan Chronicle after he cast an early vote for El-Sayed.
19-year-old Brandon Young is one of many younger voters who are backing El-Sayed because he is highly critical of the state of Israel’s war in Gaza.
“One of Haley Stevens’ most famous quotes is, ‘Israel comes to me in my dreams,” Young said in an interview with Michigan Chronicle. “I’m so sick of America bending the knee and getting on its knees for Israel — Haley Stevens doesn’t really seem to be against that.”