El-Sayed raises $2.4 million in final push for Senate seat

Abdul El-Sayed visited cities across southeast Detroit on Monday to deliver his final pitch to voters before the Tuesday general election. The Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate focused his efforts on union halls and local crowds in the days leading up to the vote.

The El-Sayed campaign reported raising more than $2.4 million on Sunday. This figure represents a record-breaking day for the effort. The surge in donations followed the announcement that Congresswoman Haley Stevens left the Democratic Party to endorse Republican Mike Rogers.

El-Sayed addressed a crowd at the union hall of UAW Local 651. Eric Prince, the president of the local, told the audience that the candidate aims to change Washington. Prince stated, "We truly believe he will take money out of politics, Medicare for all, and money back in our pockets."

U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin joined El-Sayed on stage to introduce him. Slotkin framed the contest as a choice regarding the state’s economic future. She asked if voters were willing to accept a government that abuses taxpayer dollars. Slotkin added, "Our values and who we are as a state, as Michigan, are on the line."

El-Sayed told supporters that the election is not just a partisan choice. He described the conflict as a fight against corporate control. He said, "It’s about whether or not we are willing to have a government of the people, by the people and for the people, instead of government of the corporations, by the special interests or the billionaires."

Erika Artis, a supporter in the audience, expressed hope for a political shift. She told the crowd that she hopes to see the election of the first Muslim senator. Artis said, "I just like felt like we’re on the verge of something greatness. I hope that we have our first Muslim senator, and who knows where he may go from there."