Newsom says national support ‘crucial’ for Democrats to win Michigan’s U.S. Senate race

California Gov. Gavin Newsom came to Oakland County to support a pair of Democratic candidates hoping to flip swing seats in the Michigan House, and also said he plans to meet with progressive U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Monday in an effort to boost the support El-Sayed is receiving from outside of Michigan. 

“House races are important, but the Senate is in play and it’s going to go through this state,” Newsom said. “Getting behind him is important in that respect and I think that’s going to require not just the party here, but support outside of Michigan to bolster his campaign.”

Newsom thanked 54th House District candidate Sarah Pounds and 55th District candidate Alex Hawkins for stepping up to oppose the Trump administration and propose solutions to problems facing Michigan households. Neither Hawkins nor Pounds have previously held elected office. Newsom also thanked campaign volunteers for “not giving in to cynicism” and working to organize in their communities. 

“I’m here in that spirit as well,” Newsom said. “All across this country people are waking up, we’re stepping up, we’re meeting the moment. … We recognize we have agency. We’re not bystanders of the world. We can shape the future. The future is not in front of us, it is inside of us. It’s decisions, not conditions.”

Newsom celebrated the Democratic Party’s recent success in state legislative races across the country and urged volunteers to keep working hard through the general election. 

Newsom is widely considered a potential front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, but he said his focus on visiting Michigan was to support Democrats up and down the ballot. In addition to planning to meet with El-Sayed Monday, Newsom said he campaigned earlier in the weekend with Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson.

In reaction to the visit, Republican gubernatorial nominee John James posted on X a graphic with a headshot of Newsom next to Benson and El-Sayed with the caption “don’t California my Michigan”.

James said it “makes sense” Newsom came to support Michigan Democrats, writing that “while Jocelyn Benson has been in Lansing, Michigan has been competing with California for last place on education, affordability and economic opportunity.” 

James didn’t cite his sources or link to reports to corroborate those claims. A recent ranking of “Best States” by U.S. News & World Report ranked California as the 35th best state. Michigan was ranked 46th. 

In the 54th House District, Pounds is endorsed by EMILY’s list and the UAW, and the district was listed by Gongwer News Service as one of the top 10 House seats most likely to change parties this cycle. The incumbent, state Rep. Donni Steele (R-Orion Township), is pursuing a seat in the Michigan Senate while Republicans nominated Roman Gaskey, a strategy and product analyst, to succeed her.

Pounds says people she talks to are excited for change and are excited to vote for candidates up and down the ballot. She has made housing a key issue of her campaign and says she has drafted a bill that would allow for the development of housing on land currently owned by churches, universities or nonprofits.

The 54th District spans part of Oakland County, where Pounds says many churches that no longer have active congregations still own a lot of vacant land in areas that also have access to utility infrastructure that could support housing developments. 

“They are in really great areas. The utilities are already there. It makes so much sense that we used that land and build multifamily housing there,” Pounds said. “That’s something I’m super passionate about and can’t wait to work for in Lansing.”

Hawkins served as a bomb disposal specialist in the U.S. Army and is now an officer in the Michigan National Guard with endorsements from Planned Parenthood of Michigan and VoteVets, according to his campaign website. 

Hawkins says politicians like 55th District Republican incumbent Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) haven’t been accountable for promises made while campaigning. Hawkins’ campaign focuses on strong funding for public schools and finding ways to lower costs for Michigan families. 

GOP-led House “Achilles heel of Michigan politics”

Speaking at the event, House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) said the current Republican majority in the House has obstructed Democrats from passing legislation to address Michiganders’ concerns about affording increasing costs of goods and services ranging from gasoline to healthcare, childcare and groceries. 

“Right now we need fighters because there is so much going wrong,” Puri said, referencing the increased costs facing Michigan households. He connected the legislative opposition Democrats face in Lansing with the “corruption and chaos” he says defines the Trump administration. 

Puri said Democrats can succeed by focusing on the economic issues that are having an immediate impact on Michigan families. 

“Costs have gone up, we’re in wars that no one wanted, and this is all going against the ‘mandate’ that was delivered in 2024 about bringing down costs and focusing on America First,” Puri said. “I think Democrats, Republicans and independents alike have seen enough and they want change. It’s Democrats right now that refuse to rubber-stamp the chaos coming out of D.C. and actually want to fight for Michigan’s working families.”