Pre-primary polling showed opposition to President Trump and cost-of-living concerns ranked above Israel-related issues in the Senate race between Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens.
Michigan voters casting ballots in the Democratic Senate primary said kitchen-table issues and opposition to President Trump were major drivers of their choices, alongside concerns such as health care. The contest between Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens has been framed as a fight over whether Democrats should move left or center, and as a referendum on Israel, but limited pre-primary polling suggested the electorate was more focused on the economy and Trump. In a recent Detroit News/WDIV-TV poll, 19% of likely Democratic primary voters said opposition to Trump and Republicans was their top motivation, while 18% cited the economy and cost of living. Another 12% said electing Democrats and retaking control of the U.S. Senate was their main concern. Issues tied to Israel, Gaza or the American Israel Public Affairs Committee did not rank among the top concerns mentioned. One voter, Sarah Swider, 54, a professor at Wayne State University, said she backed Dr. El-Sayed because too many people lacked access to health care.