Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers locked in tight Michigan Senate race

Democrats are hoping to take back control of Congress in midterm elections next week. Republicans currently control both chambers. Democrats aim to flip vulnerable House seats and, at a push, take the Senate too.

In Michigan, however, Democrats are at risk of losing a Senate seat. Their candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, comes from the left wing of the party and is in an unusually tight race. Polls suggest he is running neck and neck with Republican Mike Rogers.

El-Sayed's campaign has generated enthusiasm among students and young Gen Z voters, who are more excited about him than about more mainstream Democrats. He has also faced unfounded accusations of links to terrorism throughout the election, from the President down. El-Sayed said more money had been spent against him in a primary than against any candidate in history.

Some Jewish Democrats are refusing to vote for him. Mimi, a lifelong Democrat, has yard signs but no placard for El-Sayed. She is angry at his harsh criticism of Israel over the war in Gaza. El-Sayed has criticised Israel and called the war a genocide. He says he loves Judaism and denies anti-Semitism.

Rogers is hoping to win over some Black voters, who have traditionally favoured more moderate politicians. In Black-owned businesses in Detroit, voters were cynical. Some said El-Sayed must work hard to secure the Black vote. One voter said taking Black people for granted is tough, especially with the price of milk and gas. Another said it does not matter if he is too left-wing because living costs need to come down.

Barack Obama has campaigned in Michigan for El-Sayed, lending establishment support to a left-wing candidate and taking aim at Donald Trump. Obama said the current president made a series of bad decisions, including starting an unnecessary war that nobody asked for or voted for, and that this had pushed up oil, diesel and other prices. He said it is not over. Obama does not do this often, and his appearance shows Democrats are worried about Michigan.

The result will be a test of which kind of Democrat can succeed.