El-Sayed is campaigning against corporate interests in politics, and for universal healthcare. He had the crowd chanting “money out of politics, money in your pockets, Medicare for all” when he first took the mic.
He lost to Governor Gretchen Whitmer in the Democratic primary for governor back in 2018.
He told Democrats gathered at The Outsider, a restaurant in Manistee, that he thinks he could appeal to their neighbors who voted for Trump.
“I want you to think of your Trump-y neighbors,” he said. “Imagine they didn't know what my name was, and they didn't see me, and they just heard me saying, ‘Don't you think it's a pretty crazy thing that in the richest country in the world, the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield gets to make $18 million and you can't afford your health care?’ … I think a lot of those people will be, like, ‘That man's making some sense.’”
He added that he doesn't think his Arabic name or Egyptian heritage will stand in his way.
"When they tell me I can't win, they're not talking about me. They're talking about you, and I've been me in Michigan my whole life. I know the way that people open their hearts when they see that you want the best for them," said El-Sayed.
He encouraged people in the audience to reach out to five people, no matter how they voted, and ask them what they want the future to look like.
“'Do you have any great summer plans? How are the tulips this time of year? Do you care about Medicaid at all?'” he said, suggesting conversation starters. “Just kidding, but reach out to them. Engage that conversation.”
Manistee County leans conservative. The county voted for Trump by 57%.
“A lot of people think that our politics is divided by red and blue, Democrat, Republican,” El-Sayed told IPR at the event. “I don't think it is. I think the division is people who have been locked out and the people doing the locking out.”
Andy O’Donnell, a 17-year-old Manistee Public Schools student gearing up to vote in his first election, said he was excited to see the crowd.
“It's great to see so many people turn out, and especially in Manistee, a place that has historically not been blue,” said O’Donnell.
“I feel like in small rural towns, we don't always have the opportunity to get to meet a candidate,” said Manistee resident Luci Schweigert, who is volunteering for Rebecca Amidon’s campaign for Michigan's 32nd Senate district.
“It felt special that Abdul was able to come up and see us. It feels good that we're not being ignored when it comes to … national politics.”
El-Sayed is running against State Senator Mallory McMorrow (MI-8) and Congresswoman Haley Stevens (US-11) for the Democratic nomination. Most polls show a tight race.
The event was organized by the Manistee County Democrats. McMorrow will be in Manistee for a meet-and-greet on May 30.
On the Republican side, Mike Rogers is considered to be the front-running candidate. He was in Cheboygan last week, meeting with the local chamber of commerce.
The primary is on August 4.
