New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vice President JD Vance will visit Michigan on Thursday, campaigning for Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Republican contender Mike Rogers. Their appearances bring national attention and 2028 presidential contest speculation to Michigan’s crucial Senate race.
Vance will lead a Trump 47 Committee rally in Monroe, Michigan, while Ocasio-Cortez will attend events with El-Sayed in Iron Mountain and Marquette. Ocasio-Cortez stated that El-Sayed has created a successful coalition focused on reducing costs for Michigan families. She expressed enthusiasm about supporting him in the campaign’s critical final days. El-Sayed praised Ocasio-Cortez as a vital partner in the primary, eager to campaign alongside her in the concluding weeks.
Vance’s visit reflects Republican efforts to strengthen their position in the closely watched Senate contest. During an earlier Michigan visit, Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell emphasized the leadership of President Trump and Vice President JD Vance in promoting a strong Republican presence in Michigan.
“The one race in 2026 that will impact what happens in 2028 is the Michigan Senate race,” said Democratic strategist Joel Payne.
Michigan, a pivotal presidential battleground, is projected to be highly competitive, influencing which party controls the Senate post-midterm. The appearances by Ocasio-Cortez and Vance allow Michigan voters to compare prominent voices from each party. These events may reveal effective political messages in the state, known for its significant role in national elections.
A July Michigan poll ranked Ocasio-Cortez third among potential 2028 Democratic presidential hopefuls, trailing former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Senator Jon Ossoff but ahead of California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Over 20 percent of respondents were undecided.
Current Polling for El-Sayed and Rogers
Recent polls from late September to early October suggest El-Sayed leads by 1 to 7 percentage points. An InsiderAdvantage survey conducted on October 9-10 with 1,200 likely voters showed El-Sayed at 48 percent and Rogers at 46 percent, with 5 percent undecided.
Wedgewood Polls tested the field shortly before and found El-Sayed at 53 percent compared to Rogers’ 47 percent among 607 likely voters. Other surveys indicated a race within the margin of error. Quantus Insights reported a slim lead for El-Sayed, 48 percent to 47 percent among 744 likely voters during October 5-6. YouGov’s larger sample of 3,947 likely voters between September 22 and October 4 also revealed a close gap, 49 percent to 48 percent.
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