The populist playbook: Democratic US Senate candidate seeks to replicate Mamdani’s success

Abdul El-Sayed's bid for Michigan senator centers on bold leftwing populism similar to the NYC mayoral candidate

During Vermont senator Bernie Sanders's Fight the Oligarchy tour stop in Michigan, Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed hit on bold populist policies like Medicare For All and taxing the rich.

But he drew among the loudest cheers from the crowd in Kalamazoo, when he bellowed his updated reversal of an Obama catchphrase that signified a new pugilistic tactic when dealing with Maga attacks. When they go low, we don't go high. We take them to the mud and choke them out," he said.