Kuzma, Newsom Trade Posts on Michigan Senate Race
Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma and California Governor Gavin Newsom clashed on X over Republican voting and the 2026 Michigan Senate contest.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Basketball
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma posted on X that a vote for the Republican Party isn't necessarily a vote for Trump. The post responded to California Governor Gavin Newsom, who wrote that a vote for Mike Rogers is a vote for Trump and endorsed Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in the 2026 Michigan Senate election.
Why it matters
The exchange puts a high-profile athlete and a sitting governor on opposing sides of a closely watched Michigan race ahead of the November 3 midterms. It highlights how national party identity and candidate endorsements are being debated publicly by figures outside politics.
Kuzma cited that 1 in 4 Black residents in Michigan are below the poverty line, while Michigan's Muslim and Jewish population is about 1 percent. The source does not provide an official source or methodology for either figure.
The players
Kyle Kuzma
Kuzma is a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks who has spoken publicly on political issues through his social media accounts.
Gavin Newsom
Newsom is the Governor of California and a prominent national Democrat who frequently comments on national politics.
The details
Kuzma wrote that some people vote conservative because they disagree with the direction of the far left, and that a Republican vote does not automatically mean support for Trump. Newsom posted that the Republican Party is the party of Donald Trump and that a vote for Rogers is a vote for Trump. Kuzma also criticized a Barack Obama speech in Michigan on October 24, where Obama backed El-Sayed before the midterms.
Timeline
October 24: Kuzma criticized Obama's Michigan speech on X.
November 2: Kuzma posted that voting Republican isn't necessarily voting Trump.
November 3: 2026 midterm elections take place.
Season Trajectory
The exchange reflects a continuing pattern in which professional athletes use personal platforms to take partisan positions during midterm cycles. It places a Bucks forward inside a broader debate over whether athletes should influence voter perception in high-stakes state races.
Fans following Kuzma may weigh his public stance alongside his on-court role with the Bucks. Michigan voters face a decision on November 3 that these public exchanges are trying to influence.
The takeaway
Athletes and governors speaking directly to voters on X shape how partisan identity is framed in close races. Readers can compare the candidates' positions directly before casting a ballot on November 3.
What happens next
The 2026 midterm elections take place on November 3, when voters in Michigan will decide the Senate race.
Further reading
For more sports coverage tied to the athletes in this debate, see Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sportskeeda.
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