Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Republicans seize Michigan progressive wins, split on socialism message
Two people who want big changes won votes in Michigan to run for the U.S. Congress.
One of them, Abdul El-Sayed, wants health care for everyone and other big changes.
The other, William Lawrence, wants to stop new data centers and make the safety net stronger.
President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders said these wins show Democrats are too extreme.
They want to talk a lot about socialism before the big election in November.
But some Republican campaign helpers are not so sure that is a good idea.
They think regular people care more about prices at the grocery store and the gas station.
A poll found that many more Democrats than Republicans trust socialism to help the economy.
Even Republicans who want to talk about socialism say it works best when tied to real money issues.
In the end, both parties are trying to figure out the best way to win votes in November.
Republicans seized on wins by two progressive candidates in Michigan's primaries to portray Democrats as increasingly far left.
Trump labeled Michigan U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed a "Communist loser" on Truth Social after he defeated moderate rival Haley Stevens.
An unofficial Reuters survey of 11 Republican campaigns found five leaning into the socialism message and six skeptical or viewing it as secondary.
Skeptical advisers said high gas prices and living costs would outweigh ideological labels for swing voters, especially as Trump's support slipped amid the war with Iran.
National Republicans branded nominees like William Lawrence as "Midwest Mamdanis," while Michigan's Tom Barrett avoided socialism attacks and focused on his record.
- Who
- President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and other Republican leaders, plus Michigan Democratic nominees Abdul El-Sayed and William Lawrence and their Republican opponents.
- What
- Republicans seized on progressive primary victories in Michigan to attack Democrats as socialists, though many Republican campaigns are split on whether socialism should be a defining midterm theme.
- When
- Reported August 5, following Michigan primary elections held the previous Tuesday.
- Where
- Michigan, U.S., including the state's 7th Congressional District, with related campaigning in Wisconsin.
- Why
- Republicans want to shift the November midterm focus away from economic concerns that have weighed on Trump's approval ratings.
Trump and national GOP committees
Skeptical Republican campaigns
Socialism as a defining midterm theme
Trump and national GOP committees
Trump and national party officials push attacks linking Democrats to socialism and communism as defining midterm themes, portraying Democrats as dangerously far left.
Skeptical Republican campaigns
Six of 11 campaigns surveyed view the attacks as secondary, arguing swing voters care more about gas prices and living costs, especially as Trump's support slips amid the war with Iran.
How to run against William Lawrence
Trump and national GOP committees
The NRCC cast Lawrence as one of the "Midwest Mamdanis," highlighting his progressive advocacy and his past call to abolish the police, which he has since disavowed.
Skeptical Republican campaigns
Tom Barrett's campaign avoids mentioning socialism, focuses ads on Barrett's record and policy agenda, and refuses to spend campaign dollars attacking Lawrence's socialism.
How to deliver the anti-socialism message
Trump and national GOP committees
Attacks are most effective when tied to specific Democratic policies and their potential cost to voters.
Skeptical Republican campaigns
Broad ideological warnings without connection to local economic concerns risk losing voters who struggle with grocery and gas prices.
- Report date
- August 5 (Reuters report by Nandita Bose and Nathan Layne)
- Location
- Michigan, U.S., including the 7th Congressional District
- Trump's description of El-Sayed
- "Communist loser" in a Truth Social post
- El-Sayed's platform
- Medicare for all, ending unconditional military aid to Israel, abolishing ICE
- Lawrence's platform
- Federal moratorium on new data center developments; strengthening the public safety net
- Republican campaigns surveyed
- 5 of 11 leaning into socialism message; 6 skeptical or viewing it as secondary
- Cygnal poll on socialism
- 58% of Democrats trust it for positive economic outcomes vs. 11% of Republicans and 32% of independents
- Stakes
- Republicans defend narrow House and Senate majorities in November's midterms