Harris is appearing at events in Detroit aimed at building support among black voters. She will attend a roundtable on Black maternal health with El-Sayed and appear separately at an event hosted by the Detroit chapter of the NAACP, according to her spokesperson.
Her visit comes at a pivotal time in the closely watched Senate race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rodgers, a former congressman. If Democrats hold Michigan’s Senate seat, they'd still need to win four more currently held by the GOP if they are to win control of the 100-member chamber in November. If Rogers wins, their challenge would be even greater.
Rogers has been campaigning in Detroit, a predominantly black city where his campaign is optimistic he can pick up support from voters hesitant to support El-Sayed. Voters in Wayne County, home to Detroit, supported Rep. Haley Stevens over El-Sayed in the August Democratic primary, favoring the more establishment-aligned Democrat who worked in President Barack Obama's administration.
The race is also seen as a referendum on the viability of a socialist platform on a national level. El-Sayed is running to the left of the Democratic Party establishment, including advocating for universal healthcare and opposing U.S. arms sales to Israel.
El-Sayed is an outspoken critic of Israel who has described the war as a genocide against Palestinians, an accusation rejected by Israel. Some Democratic Jewish voters are supporting Rodgers because of El-Sayed's stance. He has apologized for some past controversial comments and claims he is committed to Jewish safety.
