U.S.CAMPAIGN TRAIL

AOC hits Trump-won Michigan turf to stump for El-Sayed

Ocasio-Cortez joined Abdul El-Sayed across parts of Michigan won by President Trump, making a progressive pitch in a Senate race both parties are watching closely.

On air: Hank Ledger on Late Night BBN
Published 10:48 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

At a glance

First reported by The New York Times: “In Michigan Senate Race, Ocasio-Cortez Joins El-Sayed on Trail in Trump Country”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 10:48 PM ET on Late Night BBN, by Hank Ledger.
Topics: Ocasio-Cortez, AOC, Michigan Senate, El-Sayed, Trump.
BBN covered this story before: Michigan Senate contest earns outsized attention from Trump (October 15).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The New York TimesIn Michigan Senate Race, Ocasio-Cortez Joins El-Sayed on Trail in Trump Country

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorRepresentative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaigned with Abdul El-Sayed across parts of Michigan that voted for President Trump, per the New York Times.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWith me is crisis publicist Mortimer Stavros.
Mortimer StavrosHank, thrilling. A progressive walks into Trump country, and the crowd is polite. And that's a win. I would kill for that polite crowd.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorEarlier tonight we covered the Republican, Mike Rogers, and the attention the president is paying this seat. Does a visit like this help or hurt?
Mortimer StavrosHelp. Hurt is just help in a hard hat. If she only fills half the room, the other half is room for growth.
Mortimer StavrosAnd that's a win.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHalf empty.
Mortimer StavrosHalf available, Hank. We say available.
Mortimer StavrosLast year I took a client who lost a county by forty points and called it a bold listening tour.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorI'll ask again, plainly. If a candidate loses the county, what is the win?
Mortimer StavrosThe county learned her name.
Mortimer StavrosName recognition is the comeback, Hank. And that's a win, and frankly it's the only one that has ever mattered.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMortimer, your picture is moving. Behind you, the shoreline is getting smaller.
Mortimer StavrosThat's the yacht repositioning, a strategic departure from land. The captain just left, which means I can finally bill hourly instead of by the project.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe captain left.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo what do you call a boat drifting out to sea with nobody steering it?
Mortimer StavrosA comeback, Hank. Truly, the greatest comeback of my... oh, that's a horn. That is a very large horn.