STERLING HEIGHTS, MI − As he stumped for Michigan Republicans running in marquee races in the battleground state, Vice President JD Vance described the upcoming election as a referendum on the future direction of the Democratic Party, telling voters they don't need to align with Republicans entirely.
"I'm not asking you to agree with every single policy that's in the Republican Party platform," Vance said at a Monday, Aug. 31 rally at a Sterling Heights warehouse in Macomb County. He spent much of his speech railing against Democratic U.S. Senate nominee and former health official Abdul El-Sayed, describing him as a candidate who has sown division and suggesting he wouldn't fight for all Americans like his GOP opponent, former U.S. Rep. Mike
Rogers of White Lake.
"Send a message to the elected leadership of the Democratic Party that if you want us to vote for you, you've got to stop sending us crazy people to represent your party," Vance said.
El-Sayed, in an X post, responded to Vance's allegation that he is divisive by describing his campaign as a fight for the working class against billionaires.
As Democrats campaign against President Donald Trump's policy agenda, Vance railed against former President Joe Biden. He and other Republican speakers continued a 2024 campaign theme in describing immigrants in the country illegally as an economic and security threat.
His visit comes as the U.S. and Canada have imposed new tariffs after trade talks fell apart and amid a military conflict in the Middle East that has driven up the price of fuel. At a gas station less than a mile from where Vance spoke, gas was $4.19 per gallon. But Vance didn't talk about either the trade war or the Iran war.
Vance and other Republican speakers described the stakes of the upcoming election as existential. In Michigan's open U.S. Senate race, voters face a "choice between the soul of America," said U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain of Bruce Township. GOP gubernatorial nominee U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township said voters will decide between "common sense" and "crazy" as he runs against Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called Michigan the "epicenter" of American politics as the U.S. stares down what he described as a socialist takeover of the Democratic Party. El-Sayed does not call himself a socialist but his progressive views on halting unconditional military aid to Israel and Medicare for All overlap with the left flank of the Democratic Party.
As Republicans cast their opponents as radicals with views outside the political mainstream, Democrats in Michigan blame cost-of-living challenges on Trump.
Robyn Minchella, 55, of Warren, who owns a dog training facility in Macomb County and attended the Vance rally, acknowledged the economic pain many feel. "Things are really bad right now," she said. "But Trump isn't responsible for all of the bad things that are happening right now. I do believe that he is trying to get us out."
State Rep. Tom Kuhn, R-Troy, who also attended the rally, meanwhile, offered a different perspective. "You know, you look at it, and the economy’s booming," he said. On gas prices, he said, "they're lower than when Biden was president, so you tell me, are they high?"
From the stage, James later said, "Michigan families are paying too much for gasoline" as he ran through a list of other economic challenges facing Michigan, such as the state's unemployment rate, and blamed Democrats in Lansing as he hopes to replace Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
On tariffs, Benson had a message for Vance ahead of his visit during a virtual press conference. "We want him to recognize that Michigan is hurt more than any other state in the nation as a result of these reckless tariffs," Benson said.
Vance also stumped for Michigan's 10th Congressional District GOP nominee Mike Bouchard, whose district encompasses parts of Macomb and Oakland Counties and celebrated Trump's return to the White House.
"This administration is delivering results," Bouchard said. "We will not go back to what I call the Biden burden."
Staff writer Paul Egan contributed to this report.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: In Michigan, Vance casts election as referendum on Democrats' future
