Democrat El-Sayed leads Michigan Senate race as voters cite desire to curb Trump
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
A September poll shows Democrat Abdul El-Sayed ahead of Republican Mike Rogers, with many Michigan voters saying they want to change President Trump’s direction.
A Suffolk University poll released on Sept. 22 found Democrat Abdul El-Sayed ahead of Republican former congressman Mike Rogers in Michigan’s pivotal Senate contest, with respondents indicating a desire to shift President Donald Trump’s course. The survey of 500 likely voters recorded El-Sayed at 47% versus Rogers at 40%, a lead that mirrors two earlier polls showing a narrow advantage for the Democrat.
Nearly half of those surveyed (48%) said they would vote “to change the direction President Trump is leading the nation,” compared with 20% who said they would support Trump and 28% who said the president was not a major factor in their decision. Trump’s approval rating in the state has fallen to 31%, according to the poll.
The race is viewed by Republicans as a key opportunity to capture a seat currently held by a Democrat. Analysts estimate that Democrats now need to retain all their existing seats and flip four Republican seats to secure a Senate majority, a scenario they consider roughly a 50-50 proposition.
Economic concerns dominate voter priorities, with 86% rating the state’s economy as fair or poor and 67% expressing worry about the impact of Trump-backed tariffs on Canadian auto parts. A majority also opposes the development of data centers in Michigan, a policy the president supports.
El-Sayed, a former public-health official, enjoys strong backing within his party, with 88% of Democrats supporting him. Among Black voters, 72% favor El-Sayed while 11% back Rogers. The candidate would become the first Muslim U.S. senator if elected.
"Trump's underwhelming approval rating, Canadian tariffs, opposition to data centers and a tepid Michigan economy have swung independents away from Republican candidates," said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk's Political Research Center.
The poll’s margin of error is ±4.4 percentage points.