AOC, JD Vance Head to Michigan as Polls Show Tight El-Sayed-Rogers Race

New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Vice President Joe Biden's 2024 campaign manager, JD Vance, are set to visit Michigan on Thursday in support of Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Republican nominee Mike Rogers, respectively. This national-level appearance injects star power and potential 2028 presidential relevance into the highly contested Senate race.

Vance will headline a Trump 47 Committee rally in Monroe, while Ocasio-Cortez will join El-Sayed for campaign events in Iron Mountain and Marquette. Ocasio-Cortez praised El-Sayed's ability to unite a winning coalition focused on reducing costs for Michigan families and expressed excitement about campaigning together during the final stretch of the race.

El-Sayed welcomed the endorsement, calling Ocasio-Cortez a "critical partner" during the primary and looking forward to campaigning with her in the closing weeks. Vance's visit comes as Republicans aim to bolster support in one of the country's most closely-watched Senate races. In a previous Michigan appearance with Rogers, Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell stated that President Trump and Vice President Joe Biden's 2024 campaign manager are leading the charge to elect a "powerhouse Republican ticket" in Michigan.

Newsweek contacted the campaigns of El-Sayed and Rogers for comment. Both candidates are viewed as competitive contenders due to the state's historical role in presidential elections, and this matchup of prominent younger voices from their respective parties could provide insights into which political messages resonate in Michigan.

A recent poll found Ocasio-Cortez polling third among potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders, behind Pete Buttigieg and Jon Ossoff, while Rogers led in the latest campaign polling.