Michigan is a blue state. As of today, it has a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators. Its automobile industry has been hit hard by Trump’s capriciousness. It has extensive economic ties with Canada that have been jeopardized by the current administration. Inflation is up; real wages are down; and the war is a disaster. Throw in a young, charismatic, media-savvy candidate for the Senate, and you have a walkover–right?
Not exactly, given that candidate’s hard left-wing views on a wide range of issues. Michelle Goldberg is right; this is a litmus test for the left. If El-Sayed does not win this election, given all of the advantages he starts with, it will send a message that the Democrats have to nominate a centrist in 2028 unless the state of the country is so dire that they cannot possibly lose.