The Democratic Socialists of America held a rally in one of the blackest cities in the nation to support Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan’s open Senate seat. The rally drew a mostly white crowd this weekend in Michigan.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) backed El-Sayed, a self-proclaimed socialist, over competitor Rep Haley Stevens, who’s backed by establishment Democrats and many unions.
The politicians held rallies in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing.
Sanders said that this election isn’t a choice between El-Sayed and Haley; it’s between Abdul and the “billionaire class.” Voters will decide which politician advances to face off against Republican Mike Rogers on Nov. 3.
Sanders: In all due respect to Congresswoman Stevens, everyone knows that this is not an election between her and Abdul El-Sayed. This is an election between Abdul and the billionaire class. That is what this election is about.
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 18, 2026
A billionaire class which has already—and there are… pic.twitter.com/BPZ9NSar4d
Huge rally in Detroit for @AbdulElSayed with @AOC @SenSanders @RashidaTlaib congressional candidate @DonavanMI13 and @UAW president Shawn Fain.
— Distill Social (@DistillSocial) July 18, 2026
This is one hell of a coalition fighters for the working class ready to take on corporate power and change Michigan and the country. pic.twitter.com/NX4UVMPJlC
📸Bernie Sanders, Rashida Tlaib, Abdul El-Sayed, and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez before tonight's rally in Detroit. This is how we win. pic.twitter.com/TO4zt7tAof
— Socialist News Media (@Socialist_Wins) July 19, 2026
The crowd at the Lansing Center an hour before the rally is scheduled to begin: pic.twitter.com/VhDjolOc8r
— Craig Mauger (@CraigDMauger) July 19, 2026
Come join @BernieSanders @AOC @AbdulElSayed @RashidaTlaib @ShawnFainUAW & me today at the Detroit Opera House!
— Donavan McKinney (@DonavanMI13) July 18, 2026
Doors are open, and our rally will begin at 5pm. See you there! https://t.co/v70tZ0ZMLF
The extremely white line to see Bernie, AOC and Abdul, in Detroit right now. pic.twitter.com/9niYdubNoy
— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) July 18, 2026
Looks like they shipped in every Democrat from Livonia, St. Claire Shores and Ferndale for this downtown Detroit rally. https://t.co/3mJ7l00x2O
— Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) July 19, 2026
The Democratic primary in Michigan is not complicated.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 19, 2026
The billionaire class is pouring tens of millions of dollars into the establishment candidate.
They want to maintain the status quo. We want real change.
We’re supporting @AbdulElSayed. pic.twitter.com/D8NY8NgHla
"Right now, there is a very clear choice before us. We can choose $50 million and counting in dark money trying to buy the state of Michigan. Or we can choose Dr. Abdul El-Sayed," Rep. Ocasio-Cortez tells the crowd in Detroit.
— Craig Mauger (@CraigDMauger) July 18, 2026
On Sunday, Sanders spoke at a rally in Lansing.
“This is an election between oligarchy and democracy. We believe in Democracy,” Sanders said.
LIVE: Abdul El-Sayed, Bernie Sanders, AOC, Will Lawrence rally in Lansing https://t.co/YWqVV7if1K
— The Midwesterner (@Th_Midwesterner) July 19, 2026
The Michigan GOP slammed the lawmakers.
"Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed and his sanctimonious cronies, AOC and Bernie Sanders, are leading the communist cavalry charge for a full-blown takeover of the Democrat Party,” Greg Manz, Senior Communications Advisor of the Michigan GOP, said in a statement.
"Their radical agenda of the Green New Scam, defunding the police, and Medicare for All is wildly out of step with hardworking Michiganders. That may be enough to carry Abdulrahman through his chaotic primary, but Michigan voters will resoundingly reject his far-left extremism at the ballot box and send Mike Rogers to the U.S. Senate in November."
