Vance rallies Michigan GOP, attacks ElSayed, announces trucking fraud crackdown

Vice President JD Vance headlined a major Republican campaign event in Sterling Heights, Michigan, on August 31, 2026, using the rally to sharply attack Democratic Senate nominee Abdul ElSayed while promoting a federal crackdown on trucking fraud. The event, hosted by the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc., brought together the state's top GOP candidates ahead of the November midterm elections. Speaking to a crowd of about 200 Republicans, Vance cast the Senate race between ElSayed and Republican nominee Mike Rogers as a fundamental choice. He described Rogers as a "good human being" and repeatedly characterized ElSayed as a divisive and dangerous figure. Vance focused on comments ElSayed made following a March attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, where ElSayed stated "hurt people hurt people." ElSayed apologized for the remark at a Democratic event on August 30. "What I am asking you is to remember that the same guy who defends literal terrorism is maybe not going to have your best interest at heart when he gets to Washington DC," Vance told the audience.