Abdul El‑Sayed is floundering in Michigan’s Senate race, refusing to denounce an antisemitic ad and wavering on Israel’s right to exist, prompting a rapid backlash from Democrats and media.
Campaign Under Fire
Former primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens (D‑Mich.) withdrew her endorsement and backed Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers after El‑Sayed declined to condemn a blatantly antisemitic campaign ad.
60 Minutes aired a joint interview with El‑Sayed and Mike Rogers, conducted by Ross Douthat, which exposed contradictions in El‑Sayed’s statements.
When asked “Does Palestine have the right to exist?” El‑Sayed answered “Yes” without qualification. Douthat then asked “Does Israel have the right to exist?” and El‑Sayed replied, “So, uh, yes, if there is a shared understanding…” before Douthat interrupted.
El‑Sayed later clarified that he supports equal rights for Palestinians and Israelis and would accept a two‑state solution or a single shared state, the latter viewed by critics as code for eliminating a Jewish state.
Republican research group RNC Research highlighted the disparity, noting that El‑Sayed gave Palestine an unconditional “yes” while Israel’s right was contingent.
A Michigan Democrat Party staffer, Abdoul Beckwith, said on hidden video that El‑Sayed avoids condemning terrorist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood to preserve support from Muslim voters.
“So that’s the whole thing. When Abdul is going to denounce that [Muslim Brotherhood], they’re going to think he is siding with the genociders,” Beckwith said.
El‑Sayed’s refusal to denounce the ad, his ambiguous stance on Israel’s existence, and his reluctance to condemn terrorist organizations reveal a strategic effort to appease his primary base, jeopardizing his appeal to Jewish voters and broader Democratic coalition.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will decide the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda; Republicans must hold both chambers of Congress.
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