California Gov. Gavin Newsom is stepping into one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races, announcing plans to meet with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan as Democrats ramp up efforts to capture a pivotal Senate seat.

Newsom confirmed Sunday that he would sit down with El-Sayed after being asked about the candidate during a C-SPAN interview.

“I’ll be meeting with him tomorrow,” the governor said, according to the New York Post.

Highlighting the national importance of the Michigan contest, Newsom argued that the race could ultimately determine which party controls the U.S. Senate and said Democrats across the country should rally behind El-Sayed.

“The Senate is in play, and it will go through this state,” he said. “Getting behind him is going to be important. That’s going to require not just the party here, but support outside of Michigan.”

The California governor also commended El-Sayed’s campaign following his victory in the Democratic primary, saying the candidate has continued to build momentum despite facing political headwinds.

“My observation is he seems to be moving at a pretty impressive clip,” Newsom said. “It’s about unity, and these larger/smaller events, including the ones we’ll have tomorrow, are indicative of someone who gets it.”

Newsom’s visit places him squarely in the middle of a fiercely contested Senate campaign as both parties battle for control of Congress in the November elections.

The trip also reflects Newsom’s growing political presence beyond California as he continues to raise his national profile while openly weighing a possible 2028 presidential bid. His political team has said the Michigan visit is designed to boost Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections.

Republicans, meanwhile, have intensified their criticism of El-Sayed as the general election campaign gets underway.

Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized the Democratic nominee during an appearance on Fox News Saturday, arguing that El-Sayed would be a poor choice for Michigan voters.

“I think the guy’s crazy and would be a terrible senator for the people of Michigan,” Vance told Fox News’ “Saturday in America.”

Vance’s remarks came shortly after El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination and followed the candidate’s accusation that the vice president, who has been outspoken in support of Israel, was “sucking up to power.”

“We’re going to make that case, and obviously, the people of Michigan are going to make their vote,” Vance added, also describing El-Sayed as an “odd guy.”

In November, El-Sayed will face former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in what is expected to be one of the country’s most competitive Senate races.

Rogers narrowly fell short in Michigan’s 2024 Senate contest by approximately 20,000 votes, setting the stage for another closely fought election that could play a decisive role in determining which party controls the Senate.