The Democrats need to win Michigan… so why is it splitting the party?

**Justin Webb** (0:00)
Michigan is ground zero for the Democrats when it comes to the fight that is taking place in the party over its future direction. It is also where a crucial Senate race is taking place, one that's dividing the party in a state that they can't afford to lose if they're gonna take back control of Congress.
Which direction then are the Democrats going to go in, in Michigan and beyond? Is it a preview of the battle still to come before the next presidential election? Welcome to Americast.

**Sumi Somaskanda** (0:31)
Americast, Americast, from BBC News.

**Justin Webb** (0:34)
You hear that sound?

**Haley Stevens** (0:35)
Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money.

**SPEAKER_4** (0:39)
We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. This is a big cover-up, and this administration is engaged in it.

**Megan Romer** (0:47)
This guy has Trump Derangement Syndrome.

**Abdul El-Sayed** (0:49)
I have four words for you.

**Justin Webb** (0:58)
Hello, it's Justin in the Worldwide Headquarters of Americast in London, England.

**Sumi Somaskanda** (1:02)
And it's Sumi, also in the Worldwide Headquarters in London, England.

**Justin Webb** (1:05)
Which is weird. I mean, it's wonderful, but it's also strange.

**Sumi Somaskanda** (1:09)
It's really nice on this side. I have to say, I might stay.

**Justin Webb** (1:13)
It is as headquarters go. This is quite voluminous, isn't it?

**Sumi Somaskanda** (1:17)
It is. The chairs are more comfortable as well. Yeah.

**Justin Webb** (1:20)
I've always felt that when I go to the DC office, really.
It's something about old style England, actually, that we like to do in the worldwide headquarters. But anyway, you're very welcome, Sumi. It's really nice to see you in the flesh. We're going to talk about Michigan. Just before we actually discuss why it's so important, just to tell people what is actually happening there. So there is this primary election on the Democratic side that is hugely important, isn't it? And it's taking place next week. And it's a primary election to decide who the candidate is going to be for the Senate seat. And the reason why it's open is that the Democratic Senator is actually retiring, so is out of the picture. So it is an open seat. The Democrats have had it in the past, but they haven't got someone who has been the Senator in the fight this time. So they've got to make a choice. And that person is they're going to face off against the Republican candidate in the midterm elections. Sumi, it seems to me there are two reasons why Michigan really matters, really matters a lot. And the first is simply that they got to win it in the Senate race.

**Sumi Somaskanda** (2:24)
It's Michigan. I mean, every election cycle, we end up talking about Michigan. It's one of those classic purple states. It's a swing state. You have really progressive parts of Michigan, which I know you know from traveling through the US as well. And you have really conservative parts of Michigan. And it has come back into focus because of course, the tariffs discussion on the car industry, reviving American manufacturing, a lot of that discussion. We saw President Trump travel to Michigan, didn't we, just last week. So a lot of that discussion has been focused on Michigan. And because it's such an important state, you always see Democrats and Republicans pour tons of money and energy into winning that state. So that's the first reason. But all the more important in this midterms is the Democrats want to try to win the Senate back, don't they? Obviously, it looks like they have a decent path to win back. The House of Representatives, the Senate is going to be a trickier, more uphill battle. And one of those crucial seats that they have to defend is, as you said, Senator Gary Peters, a long-serving Democrat, is stepping down. And so the race to replace him has become this fascinating battle on the Democratic side in particular. And once, of course, that hurdle is passed and they pick who will be on the ticket, then they move on obviously to the battle to keep that seat. But it just has raised the importance of the state once again.

**Justin Webb** (3:41)
Yeah. And you mentioned the state is purple.
Michigan voted for Trump, didn't it, in 24? But at the same time, do you think of at the governor level and to an extent, I suppose, in the Senate level as well? I'm trying to think whether there have been many Republicans from Michigan in recent years. It is genuine. In other words, I suppose what I'm saying is, when you say purple, that mixture of red for the Republicans and blue for the Democrats, it actually really is, isn't it? People still to an extent even split their tickets.