Trump Stumps for Rogers in Michigan as Voters Report Campaign Fatigue

President Trump campaigned in Michigan for Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, sharpening his attacks on Democrat Abdul El-Sayed to include calling him a "jihadist." The rhetorical heat, however, did not match the priorities voiced by voters NPR interviewed across the state.

During an appearance on Morning Edition with Steve Inskeep, NPR's Michel Martin, reporting from Ann Arbor, said local concerns center on household budgets rather than the campaign's latest clash. "People they talk to, the people we talk to, say they are worried about the price of gas, groceries, and health care," Martin said. "And I got to tell you, a lot of the voters we talk to here are just burned out."

Voters described discarding stacks of campaign mailers, and one woman told Martin she cast an early ballot simply to conclude the process. Discontent with the two-party structure also surfaced at public gatherings. At a University of Michigan football tailgate, Nick Janosi said he plans to vote for El-Sayed while wishing for other options. "I would love to see more independent, middle-of-the-road candidates that kind of take the best of both parties," Janosi said.

At a Detroit Lions tailgate, Josh Snell said he would probably vote for Rogers, citing the candidate's opposition to Trump's Canadian tariffs. Snell also described a reluctance among some voters to discuss their political views openly. "A lot of people are afraid because of the violence involved," Snell said.

Martin characterized the hesitation to speak about political preferences across Michigan as "worse than I've ever seen it," regardless of a voter's affiliation. She found more people in Ann Arbor willing to state support for El-Sayed, though she could not determine whether that reflected enthusiasm for the candidate or a reluctance among Rogers supporters to speak.