Abdul El-Sayed and the New Fault Lines in the Democratic Party
El-Sayed is gaining traction in Michigan in the Senate race as an unapologetic outsider challenging his own party. But campaigning is one thing. Governing is another.
Welcome back to The Red Letter.
Suddenly, the Michigan Senate race is one of the most interesting in the country.
Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed is gaining traction as an outsider—unapologetic, internet-savvy, and willing to say things most politicians won’t. He’s not disavowing controversial voices, he’s taking on the Democratic establishment, and he’s leaning into a kind of blunt populism that’s resonating with voters who feel left out of the system.
But outsider politics is easy when you’re running.
What happens when you actually have to govern?
We talked about all of it—from the party’s fractures over Israel, to the role of media and influencers, to whether his vision can survive Washington.
It got… tense.
Wow I legit hadn’t heard of him or his candidacy yet, will check this out!
Wow! What an exciting voice. I love hearing that real people are running for office, not career politicians who’ve lost the plot on helping Americans. His point about going on podcasts and such is spot on (and what Pete Buttigieg has been saying for years): we have to meet people where they are and talk to them to build a coalition of change.