Springsteen Endorses El-Sayed as Michigan Senate Race Splits Democrats

Bruce Springsteen used his X account on Monday to endorse Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s closely watched race, calling him “a fighter for our American Constitution” and “a fighter for our American Democracy.”

“Dr. El-Sayed is a fighter for our American Constitution, he’s a fighter for our American Democracy, and he’s a fighter against the corrupt, lawless, and anti-American leadership currently in the White House. That’s why I’m in his corner 100%,” Springsteen wrote.

The endorsement lands amid an unusual rift within the Michigan Democratic Party. Rep. Haley Stevens, a sitting Michigan Democrat, declined to endorse El-Sayed and instead publicly backed his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, ahead of the general election.

Stevens’ move has exposed broader unease among Democrats, in Michigan and nationally, over El-Sayed’s candidacy. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has previously criticized some of his positions as “concerning” and noted she has “more Jewish grandchildren than anybody in Congress.” Other reports indicate some centrist Democrats would rather see the seat go to a Republican than vote for El-Sayed.

Rogers welcomed the crossover support in a statement responding to the defections. “As I said the day after the primary, if you believe Michigan can have a future where we can all come together, you have a home with us,” he said. “I say today: if you are a Haley Stevens voter who rejects this bigoted and hateful candidate, you have a home with us. If you believe we can all work together to make housing affordable, improve education and, lower gas prices, you have a home with us. Let’s Get to Work.”

The race highlights a wider divide inside the Democratic Party over how to handle El-Sayed’s candidacy, even as high-profile cultural figures like Springsteen rally behind him in the campaign’s final stretch.