A Democratic warning sign in Michigan: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskA Democratic warning sign in Michigan: From the Politics DeskPlus, Trump’s latest foreign policy moves.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Abdul El-Sayed speaks during a news conference at the Spirit of Detroit shortly after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Detroit.Julia Demaree Nikhinson / APShareAdd to GoogleAug. 17, 2026, 6:55 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskHappy Monday. In today’s edition, our staff digs into President Donald Trump’s latest surprise in the realm of foreign affairs. Plus, senior national politics reporter Sahil Kapur explores a polling gap in Michigan — and what it means for the Democratic Party.Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Scott BlandA Michigan Senate poll offers warning signs for DemocratsAnalysis by Sahil KapurWhile polls show a political environment favorable enough to Senate Democrats that they’re competitive in several states where President Donald Trump won by double digits, a new survey offers a sobering reality check in must-win Michigan.Days after progressive Abdul El-Sayed defeated moderate Haley Stevens in a highly competitive Democratic primary this month, a Fox News poll conducted by a bipartisan pair of polling firms found El-Sayed trailing Republican nominee Mike Rogers by 4 points, 51%-47%.The same poll also looked at the race for governor and found Democrat Jocelyn Benson leading Republican John James by 5 points, 52%-47%. Both spreads are within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 3 points.The most worrying finding for El-Sayed in the poll may be that his weakness compared to his Democratic ticket-mate isn’t limited to any specific demographic. He’s underperforming Benson among just about every group — including men (by 4 points), women (by 8 points), white voters (by 5 points), Black voters (by 11 points), college-educated voters (by 4 points), voters without a college degree (by 7 points)...