Democrats Rally Around Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Amid Trump Attacks
Democratic leaders are uniting behind progressive Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed following severe attacks from Donald Trump, despite past primary divisions.
Democratic establishment figures are rallying around progressive Abdul El-Sayed as the party's candidate in the closely-watched US Senate election in Michigan, facing a barrage of extreme attacks from Donald Trump and his allies. The endorsement is not always full-throated and often omits his name, marking a significant turn after a bitter primary split in August when El-Sayed narrowly defeated a moderate pro-Israel candidate backed by the central party machine.
At a Port Huron rally, Trump launched Islamophobic rants against El-Sayed, erroneously branding him a jihadist and Muslim Brotherhood member while invoking 9/11. Republicans have doubled down on incendiary attacks, with Trump repeatedly calling him Mohammed this month and the National Republican Senatorial Committee airing ads using his full name. El-Sayed has dismissed these attacks as a distraction from everyday economic issues.
Democratic leaders unite behind Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed despite lingering policy disagreements.
Prominent Democrats have increasingly traveled to Michigan to show solidarity. Independent senator Bernie Sanders and former president Barack Obama rallied with him, while New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez toured the state. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have also transferred funds to his campaign. Obama joined El-Sayed on stage in Detroit during early voting, rejecting claims that the candidate is radical and comparing attacks on his name to those he faced himself.
Despite the show of support, some party figures remain guarded. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and former congressman Sander Levin noted significant policy disagreements regarding Israel. Meanwhile, Senator Cory Booker avoided mentioning El-Sayed by name during a television interview when discussing the Senate race, and primary opponent Haley Stevens noted hesitations regarding community outreach while confirming she remains on the team.
The Michigan Senate race could help decide control of the entire chamber. Recent polls show a close contest, with a Marist poll putting El-Sayed at 50% and his Republican opponent Mike Rogers at 48% among likely voters. Rogers has been courting Jewish voters by claiming El-Sayed is anti-Jew, an accusation that El-Sayed firmly rejects. El-Sayed and Stevens are scheduled to campaign together ahead of election day.