By Monique Baker McCormick, Wayne County Commissioner
For decades, Black communities have been the backbone of Democratic victories across this country. We organize. We mobilize. We save elections. We stand in solidarity with others, often even when our own issues are pushed aside.
But now, as voting rights and Black political power face growing attacks, many of us are asking: Who truly stands with us when it matters most?
In 2024, many of us sounded the alarm about the dangers of another Trump presidency. We organized rallies, encouraged turnout, and warned communities across Metro Detroit about what was at stake for civil rights, voting rights, diversity initiatives, and marginalized communities.
Donald Trump told America exactly what he planned to do, and now we’re watching it unfold.
The United States Supreme Court recently weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, one of the last major protections Black communities have used for decades to fight voter suppression and discriminatory district maps. Across the country, states are already moving aggressively to weaken Black political representation.
For Black communities in Detroit, Wayne County, Flint, Pontiac, Benton Harbor, and across Michigan, this is not theoretical. This is personal.
Michigan is one of the most important battleground states in America. And history has already shown us how critical Black turnout is.
In 2016, Trump won Michigan by just over 10,000 votes while Black turnout in Detroit dropped significantly. In 2020, when Black voter engagement rebounded in Detroit and Wayne County, Joe Biden carried Michigan overwhelmingly.
Black voters are not just part of the Democratic coalition. We are often the deciding factor.
That is why this Senate race deserves scrutiny and honest conversation – especially about who can actually win in November.
I can speak on this personally because I did the work.
In 2024, I worked to help bring our Arab brothers and sisters into the fold to support Vice President Kamala Harris, because many of us believed there would be solidarity in the face of another Trump presidency.
And while individuals within the Arab community did support Harris, many Black Detroiters did not see the level of public organizing, mobilization, urgency, and visible advocacy that many expected during one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.
That absence was noticed.
Of course, white candidates and other communities are also seeking Black votes every election cycle. That is politics. But many Black Detroiters believed the relationship between the African American and Arab communities in Metro Detroit was different — built on decades of shared neighborhoods, business relationships, community partnerships, and mutual support.
Black Detroit helped build up economic opportunities throughout many parts of Metro Detroit. Black consumers support Arab businesses. Black political leadership opened doors and created opportunities for many communities.
So naturally, many expected visible solidarity in return when Black communities were warning about threats to democracy, voting rights, and representation.
But unfortunately, many did not feel that support at the level they expected.
This is not about attacking any one candidate or community. It is about Black people waking up politically and recognizing the value of our vote and our collective power.
Too often, Black voters are expected to give loyalty automatically without demanding accountability in return. Meanwhile, other communities organize strategically around their interests and political power.
We must do the same
Abdul El-Sayed speaks to many important issues. But elections are not decided on messaging alone — they are decided on trust and turnout.
Right now, the data raises real concerns. Polling shows that while El-Sayed is competitive overall in the primary, he is trailing other Democratic candidates when it comes to support from Black voters — the very voters who will determine whether Democrats win this seat in November.
We’ve already seen what happens when Black turnout drops. Michigan will likely decide control of the Senate; Republicans are looking for weaknesses.
There are also growing questions about how El-Sayed will hold up in a general election. Recent reporting around his professional background and how he has presented his medical experience has created openings for attacks. His shifting positions on key policies like Medicare for All could make him an easier target for Republicans.
Black voters have seen this before — candidates who inspire on paper but struggle to build the broad, durable coalition needed to win when it counts.
If Democrats nominate a candidate who cannot maximize Black turnout or withstand a general election challenge, the consequence is not just losing a seat. The consequence is empowering a Senate majority that will continue to confirm hostile judges, advance voter suppression efforts, and further weaken Black political power nationwide.
That is a risk Michigan cannot afford to take.
Because part of the reason we no longer have Black representation in Congress from areas historically represented by Black leadership is because we have allowed our political power to become fragmented and taken for granted.
Coalitions must be built on reciprocity, not convenience. Political partnerships cannot only matter during election season.
Black voters have earned the right to ask hard questions: Who is standing with us consistently? Who is visible in our communities before election season?
Who is willing to fight for Black political power when it is inconvenient? Those are not divisive questions. They are necessary questions.
Because people will show you who they are — not just through speeches, but through action, solidarity, and presence when it matters most.
And Michigan cannot afford to gamble with Black political power now.
Monique Baker McCormick is Wayne County Commissioner (District 6) representing Redford Township and parts of Detroit.
