Receiving End: How Abdul El-Sayed Beat the Odds in Michigan

You would have thought that Mike Rogers would have taken the Michigan midterm election based on the amount of outside money spent for him. By the middle of October outside groups had spent close to $95 million for Rogers and only $42 million for Abdul El-Sayed. Making this the costliest Senate race in Michigan history with over $270 million spent total. In the closing days Haley Stevens, who competed against El-Sayed in the primary, endorsed Mike Rogers. The Associated Press projected El-Sayed to win the election Wednesday morning with about 52 percent to 46. Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim to serve in the United States Senate.

If you have ever studied public diplomacy this will sound familiar. They spend money to reach an audience.  Then they measure how many people they have reached, which ultimately has them figuring out how to convert that into influence. I wrote about this issue in my last blog post as the conversion problem. Money will get reach but how do we convert that to influence? Michigan just did that for us with millions of voters in one night.

He beat the odds in the primary as well. Outside groups are estimated to have spent around $60 million in the primary, most of which went towards his opponent.  Super PAC spending was higher for her by more than 12 to 1. He won by about 1% or 13,800 votes and won 30 out of Michigan’s 83 counties. Including 9 in the Upper Peninsula.  They bought reach 10 to 1 yet couldn't buy the outcome.

"Countries and politicians will spend millions to try to reach others. $95 Million got them there.  But the people of Michigan let him know they heard him too."

There was something more at play, something almost transporting us back to when the founding fathers established hope for a nation. There are many works written about status in international relations. From Deborah Welch Larson and Alexei Shevchenko on status-seeking to Erik Ringmar on recognition, they all share one commonality. Status is awarded to you by others.  You must first develop your credibility and allow others to value your credibility. Abdul El-Sayed raised $30.7 Million in one quarter. Which is more than any candidate in Michigan has ever done in a quarter.

What seems to stand out is how he got the money. Over one third of that amount was from individuals who donated less than $200, with no corporate PACs. This is status being awarded by those in your community, those you serve.  Many of them donating small amounts of money. When Haley Stevens backed Rogers he was able to raise $2.4 million that same day.

Listening to the people.  He did this throughout his campaign starting in the summer of 2025 he began hosting town halls all over Michigan. Allowing those who came to ask questions. They said they were meeting people where they are and told his supporters that if you are going to show support "you need to show up when it counts, not when it's convenient." He ran on gas and groceries, on prioritizing his people, on "Money out of politics, money in your pocket, Medicare for All."  He also spoke about foreign policy and issues such as aiding militaries abroad rather than investing in the community and its people.

Those are topics that played a factor in both elections but can be another article of its own. Like any public diplomacy scholar knows, he knew that listening was important. It's always first mentioned when talking about public diplomacy and never mentioned when talking about budget.

So ask yourself before you evaluate a campaign: Did they listen to you? Did you change your mind?

Countries and politicians will spend millions to try to reach others. $95 Million got them there.  But the people of Michigan let him know they heard him too.