Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, running in the US Senate race, wants to put a measure on the midterm ballot to address the ongoing trade war with Canada, which he argues has unfairly harmed Michigan residents. A recent study by the U.S. National Taxpayers Union Foundation found that Michigan households face the highest per-household tariff costs in the country. El-Sayed is trying to capitalize on voters' frustrations with the trade war, calling President Trump an "asshole" for starting it and pushing for a change in course on tariffs. The US Senate seat in Michigan is currently up for grabs, with polls showing a tight race between Democratic and Republican candidates.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
A Michigan Democrat wants to put Canada on the ballot during the midterms.
asserted
Democrat → want → midterms
Are voters listening?
asserted
voters → listen → ?
State's open Senate seat is shaping up to be a tight race in the shadow of a trade war
It's just past noon at Richfield Bowl on the outskirts of Flint, Mich., and already the sounds of rolling bowling balls and crashing pins fill the large hall.
asserted
sounds → shape → hall
And not just when two pins are left standing.
asserted
pins → leave → ?
"President [Donald] Trump's trying to keep American people working instead of sending it overseas," said Scott Holmes, moments before his turn to bowl.
asserted
Holmes → try → turn
"My son just lost his job a few months ago because they sent it over to Africa."
asserted
they → lose → Africa
His teammate Dick Hunt sees the U.S. president's tariffs another way.
asserted
teammate → see → tariffs
"The people, we end up paying for it," he said.
asserted
he → end → it
CBC News recently travelled to Michigan to get a temperature check on how Americans are feeling about the tariff war with Canada — the state's largest export market.
asserted
Americans → travel → Canada
MAGA supporter Tina Bentley says she trusts the president's handling of the economy.
asserted
she → say → economy
"I think he's a smart man.
asserted
he → think → ?
And I think that he cares 100 per cent about America," she said.
asserted
she → think → America
"The way I look at it is God didn't use perfect people to do his work.
asserted
God → look → work
He used people like Trump to do his work.
asserted
He → use → work
"
A few lanes down, longtime bowler Peggy Banks can't disagree more.
asserted
Banks → disagree → ?
"Our tariffs have not done anything for the people except make everything more expensive," she said.
asserted
she → do → people
Bowling league-mate Lisa McFadden nodded along.
asserted
McFadden → bowl → ?
"I think now everybody is starting to see it regardless of if you're a Democrat or a Republican because now it's affecting everybody's pocket," she said.
asserted
she → think → pocket
Trump's tariffs on the ballot
Michigan, heart of the auto industry, is one of the states hardest hit by the trade dispute.
asserted
Michigan → hit → dispute
Just this month the U.S. National Taxpayers Union Foundation published a study suggesting Michigan households face the highest per-household tariff costs in the country.
asserted
households → publish → country
Whitmer told Trump in private that Michigan auto jobs depend on a tariff change of course
Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario and Michigan share a border — and now a very big tariff threat
That puts the already hotly contested race for U.S. Senate this November in the shadow of an escalating trade war.
asserted
That → tell → war
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is not running for re-election this year.
asserted
Peters → run → election
Holding Michigan's seat is crucial for the Democratic Party if they want to regain control of the Senate during the second half of Trump's term.
asserted
they → hold → term
The Republicans are hoping to flip the seat red.
asserted
Republicans → hop → seat
So far, polls suggest the two candidates are neck and neck.
asserted
candidates → suggest → ?
Abdul El-Sayed, considered a progressive-left choice for the Democratic Party, is hoping to capitalize on Michiganders' frustrations with the trade war.
asserted
Sayed → consider → war
He's been pushing Canada into the conversation while campaigning, repeatedly calling Trump an "asshole" for starting a trade war with the country's northern neighbour.
asserted
He → push → neighbour
"People don't want to have to keep paying more for stuff that they need to buy.
asserted
they → want → that
So here we are," El-Sayed told CBC News during a campaign stop in Waterford, Mich., on Thursday.
asserted
Sayed → tell → Thursday
The Democrat — who was quick to raise his childhood memories of watching Hockey Night in Canada and his love of lacrosse, Canada's other national sport — isn't ruling out all tariffs.
asserted
who → raise → tariffs
He cited duties on windmill parts or solar rigs as an example of tariffs he would keep if it would help build up his state's renewable energy industry.
asserted
it → cite → industry
"But it's because you're being very particular about exactly what kind of industries you're trying to protect.
asserted
you → try → industries
This is just across the board, ridiculousness, for no particular reason," El-Sayed said.
asserted
Sayed → say → reason
"So I can't quite explain it.
asserted
I → explain → it
Except for that everything Donald Trump does is ham-fisted, chaotic and self-serving.
asserted
Trump → do → ?
His Republican rival has largely stayed away from talking about Trump's tariffs on the campaign.
asserted
rival → stay → campaign
Mike Rogers's camp didn't respond to CBC's request for an interview, but was recently asked by Fox News if he supports Trump's handing of the trade deal with Canada and backed the president's objectives.
asserted
he → respond → objectives
"The Canadians have not been good partners on this," Rogers said in an interview on Fox & Friends on Monday.
asserted
Rogers → say → Monday
"I think they think that the Republicans are going to lose in the midterms, and then that the Democrats are going to open up the borders again and absolutely undercut the people who build cars and car parts right here in Michigan.
asserted
who → think → Michigan
Voters mixed on if tariffs play into their vote
Residents in Genesee County were mixed on whether the tariffs will impact their votes.
asserted
tariffs → mix → votes
…and 13 more, not listed.
