Former US Vice President Harris urges Michigan Democrats to unite — Korea Herald

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris in Detroit urged Michigan Democrats to unite around Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. She said the midterm elections could serve as a check in the middle of Donald Trump’s second presidential term, Korea Herald reports.

At a forum of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Harris urged voters to support candidates even if they do not share all of their views. She also stressed the need for high turnout among Black voters.

Support for the Senate candidate

Earlier the same day, Harris and El-Sayed took part in a roundtable discussion on Black maternal mortality. El-Sayed is a physician and former head of Detroit’s public health department. Harris said she supports him because she believes he will protect people’s interests in healthcare matters.

El-Sayed is running as a Democrat for the Senate seat being vacated following Senator Gary Peters’ announced retirement. He defeated the party establishment’s preferred candidate in the primary. In the general election, he will face Republican Mike Rogers, a former member of the House of Representatives.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Differences over Israel and Gaza

Harris’ support is important for El-Sayed in Wayne County, where she remains popular among Black voters. At the same time, the candidate needs to consolidate Democratic Party supporters after a tense primary. Some progressive voters and Arab Americans in Michigan did not support Harris in the 2024 election because of her and then-President Joe Biden’s support for US military aid to Israel.

El-Sayed has called the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza a genocide of Palestinians, while the Israeli government rejects that characterization. During the trip, Harris and El-Sayed did not jointly answer reporters’ questions about their previous differences over US policy toward Israel. The candidate said Harris’ visit should help unite his electoral coalition.

Rogers’ campaign called Harris’ visit a sign of the Democratic candidate’s weakness. Rogers himself is also campaigning in Detroit, hoping to win the support of voters who are hesitant about voting for El-Sayed.