If you’re paying any attention to American politics, you of course know by now that Abdul El-Sayed has emerged victorious in the closely watched Michigan primary for U.S. Senate. As the political energy now pivots to the general election in November — in which El-Sayed will face off against Republican Mike Rogers — some Democrats are displaying signs of commitment issues.
One of the criticisms that supporters of El-Sayed’s primary opponent, Haley Stevens, leveled against him during their fiercely contested primary race was that he had been part of the “uncommitted” movement in the spring of 2024, which advocated withholding support for Joe Biden in the Democratic primaries over his administration’s handling of the Gaza war. It wasn’t an outright refusal to vote for Biden in the general election, but an attempt to pressure the president to change course on the war. Michigan was the nerve center of that movement.
Some establishment Democrats have even suggested that by supporting the “uncommitted” movement, El-Sayed helped throw the 2024 election to Donald Trump — the implication being that El-Sayed isn’t a loyal Democrat. In point of fact, El-Sayed endorsed Kamala Harris for president. “Considering the dangers of the Republican nominee, & potential of her leadership, it’s time for all of us to unite behind @KamalaHarris to defeat Trump,” he wrote on social media.
Now the shoe is on the other foot. Although Stevens herself has come out in support of El-Sayed — saying she is “proud to offer [her] support as he takes on Mike Rogers in the general election” — some of her supporters have said the opposite. “I will not stand beside someone who has allowed distinctly anti-American sentiment to enter our public dialogue,” Democratic Rep. Hillary Scholten told Semafor in late July.
David Salama, an anesthesiologist from suburban Detroit, told the AP: “I would vote for Haley in November if she were to win today, but if Abdul wins today, I will vote for Mike Rogers in November.”
These sentiments — which the journalist Nicholas Wu called the “Never-El-Sayed moment” — go well beyond the “uncommitted” movement, whose adherents didn’t flat out refuse to vote for Biden, let alone pledge a vote for Trump.
Of course, emotions can fluctuate between now and November. The primary naturally focused political energies on the differences between El-Sayed and Stevens. With the pivot to the general election, many voters will recalibrate. The choice between El-Sayed and Rogers, his Republican opponent, will focus minds and bring plenty of Stevens supporters around.
But what if the “Never-El-Sayed” sentiment endures and throws the general election to Rogers — and indeed prevents the Democrats from regaining the U.S. Senate?
Then who would the spoilers be?