Four names to know. Each one is running — or governing — on the same basic idea: the economy should work for the people who do the work. Here is who they are, what they stand for, and where the latest polls put them.
U.S. Senate · Michigan
Abdul El-Sayed
A physician and epidemiologist who rebuilt Detroit’s public health department as the city’s health director, El-Sayed has spent his career treating healthcare as a public good — in clinic rooms, in city government, and now in a run for the U.S. Senate. Backed by Bernie Sanders, AOC and the movement, he won the Democratic nomination to fight for Gary Peters’ open seat.
Running on — Medicare for All, getting corporate money out of politics, and rebuilding an economy that works for working families instead of donors.
Momentum — The money fight is on: Bernie Sanders sent $1M to El-Sayed's campaign on Oct. 22 after reports that AIPAC planned up to $9M for a pro-Rogers super PAC — AOC had already given $1M — and Zohran Mamdani backed El-Sayed on Oct. 20, calling his victory critical to a new course in Washington. The pro-Rogers Great Lakes Conservatives Fund has also announced a $4.6M Michigan ad buy.
50%in the newest Marist poll — ahead of Mike Rogers (R) at 48% among likely voters
Marist College Poll · Oct. 21, 2026 — El-Sayed 50, Rogers 48 among likely voters (±4.3 pts). The averages: RealClearPolitics puts El-Sayed ahead by 2 points and Silver Bulletin has him up 2.6; InsiderAdvantage (Oct. 9–10) had it El-Sayed 48, Rogers 46. Kalshi prices him at ~69¢ (via USA Today, Oct. 21).
See the Marist coverage →
Mayor · New York City
Zohran Mamdani
A Queens assemblymember and Democratic Socialists of America member who won the mayor’s office on one word — affordability — Mamdani is now the highest-profile democratic socialist governing in America. His first year at City Hall has been about turning a campaign platform into policy for the most expensive city in the country.
Running City Hall on — freezing the rent for stabilized apartments, fast and free buses, universal childcare, and city-owned grocery stores, paid for by asking the wealthiest New Yorkers and big corporations to pay their fair share.
On the trail — Mamdani campaigned with Gov. Kathy Hochul in Brooklyn on Friday, Oct. 23, the first time he outright campaigned for her re-election ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.
52%in the new Fox News poll — Mamdani 52%, Cuomo 28%, Sliwa 14% among likely voters
Fox News Poll · released Oct. 22, 2026 (conducted Oct. 10–14 by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R); 1,003 NYC registered voters, ±3 pts; 793 likely voters, ±3.5) — Mamdani 52, Cuomo 28, Sliwa 14 among likely voters: a 21-point lead, up about 5 points since September. Top issues: crime, cost of living, housing; 66% say ICE is “too aggressive” in NYC.
U.S. Senate · Florida
Angie Nixon
A Jacksonville state representative, author and small-business owner, Nixon is the DSA’s nationally endorsed Senate candidate in Florida — and she got there by beating the Democratic establishment’s pick in the August primary. She’s running to finish Marco Rubio’s term against appointed Sen. Ashley Moody, with Bernie Sanders barnstorming the state beside her.
Running on — reining in the insurance companies and corporate landlords driving Florida’s cost-of-living crisis, expanding Medicaid, and fighting for housing Floridians can actually afford.
Momentum — Ro Khanna campaigned with her in Florida this week, and she took her Senate case to The Find Out Podcast.
45%in the newest UNF poll — appointed Sen. Ashley Moody (R) leads at 49%
UNF Public Opinion Research Lab · released Oct. 21, 2026 (fielded Oct. 12–19; 1,471 likely voters; ±2.81) — Moody 49, Nixon 45, tightening from Moody +8 in UNF's July poll; independents favor Nixon by 15.
See the UNF poll coverage →
U.S. House · CA-7 · Sacramento
Mai Vang
The daughter of Hmong refugees and a Sacramento city council member since 2020, Vang co-founded Hmong Innovating Politics to organize Southeast Asian American and Pacific Islander communities into political power. Her challenge to a 21-year incumbent became one of the breakout progressive campaigns of the cycle — and voters rewarded it.
Running on — Medicare for All, housing working families can afford, defending immigrant communities, and a generational changing of the guard in Congress.
This week — Vang pledged to oppose automatic license plate readers, citing privacy, civil liberties and the risk of immigration-enforcement access to location data; Matsui's campaign answered by attacking her record.
31%of the primary vote — first place, ahead of Rep. Doris Matsui’s 29%
Official results · June 2026 top-two primary — Vang 31.2%, Matsui 29.1%; the two Democrats meet again in the Nov. 3 general election.
See her record →
Polling note: figures are each pollster’s own topline, linked at the source — horse-race numbers for the candidates still running, a job-approval rating for the one already governing, and certified primary results where the voters have already weighed in.
