Sanders Draws 700 in Alpena to Back El-Sayed

Bernie Sanders stood before a crowd of roughly 700 people in Alpena on Monday, a rare sight in a county where Donald Trump won the presidency by nearly 29 percentage points two years ago. The gathering was part of a final push to support Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Organizers had to bring in extra chairs and remove a room divider to accommodate the attendees.

El-Sayed and his allies are trying to shrink the Republican margin in northern Michigan rather than flip it entirely. In statewide contests often decided by fewer than 100,000 votes, experts say even small shifts in these traditional GOP areas can change the outcome. Sanders, a Democratic socialist, spent the hour touting El-Sayed, criticizing Trump, and speaking against income inequality and the healthcare system.

The strategy mirrors moves by the opposing party. Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers is actively courting Jewish voters and Detroiters who previously backed Haley Stevens. Rogers and gubernatorial nominee John James have also campaigned in the Upper Peninsula and rural northern districts. Both parties recognize that non-college-educated white voters are essential to their coalitions.

Richard Czuba, a Michigan pollster, noted that if El-Sayed begins winning over non-college voters, it signals trouble for Republicans. Czuba told Bridge that this demographic is a core part of Trump’s winning coalitions in the state. Rogers and the GOP are responding to national issues like high prices and the war in Iran, which have lowered Trump’s approval ratings.

El-Sayed has adopted a “Michigan first” slogan, echoing Trump’s “America First” branding. He ran a new ad on Fox News and drew large crowds in recent rural tours. Democrats believe this approach helps connect with voters who feel disillusioned by their current government. Callie Barr, a Democrat, recently outraised incumbent Rep. Jack Bergman in the 1st Congressional District, where Bergman had won by more than 20 points in 2024.

Sanders said the visit aimed to connect with rural communities often overlooked by campaigns. He argued that high costs have made residents more aware of the gap between their finances and the ultrawealthy. “What we have found is that many rural communities often don’t get the attention that they deserve,” Sanders said in an interview.

Local Democrats viewed the turnout positively. Diane O’Connor, an activist with the Alpena County Democratic Party, said the crowd size impressed her. She believes the visit will help Democrats in next week’s election. Christie Rasche, another local resident, noted that seeing many people support a different political viewpoint in a traditionally conservative area felt good.

The visit was part of a broader effort to counter attack ads against El-Sayed, who Sanders said had been heavily outspent by outside groups. Sanders and other members of Congress committed more than $1.3 million to El-Sayed’s campaign in the final days of the cycle. Sanders stated that while El-Sayed will not match the money of billionaires and super PACs, the goal is to ensure he has a fighting chance.