Full Breakdown
Resurfaced Clip of Michigan Senate Candidate Fuels Online Firestorm Over Mackinac Island Remarks
8/8/2026, 11:53:14 PM
Core Event: El-Sayed’s “I Hate Mackinac” Comment Reemerges
A 2020 documentary clip of Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed resurfaced after being highlighted by *The Midwesterner*. In the footage, El-Sayed walks through Mackinac Island and says, “I hate Mackinac so much,” adding, “It’s funny cause, like, if we win, this is gonna be, like, the summer home.” The remark, made during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, quickly went viral on social media, prompting a wave of criticism from conservative commentators and political operatives.
Background: Mackinac Island’s Symbolic Status
Mackinac Island, located in Lake Huron, is celebrated for its historic Victorian architecture, horse-drawn carriages, and prohibition of motor vehicles since the 1890s. Landmarks such as the Grand Hotel and Fort Mackinac, along with famed fudge shops, draw more than a million visitors each summer, making the island an enduring cultural emblem for Michigan and a frequent destination for political gatherings, including the annual Mackinac Policy Conference.
Official Statements & Responses
El-Sayed’s campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. No formal rebuttal was issued by the campaign beyond the brief social-media remark.
Criticism & Opposition
A slate of conservative figures condemned the comment. Outkick founder Clay Travis called Mackinac “an awesome place” and expressed disbelief that anyone could hate it. Former Trump advisor Steve Cortes labeled the island “iconic to Michigan, to America,” calling El-Sayed’s attitude “dark-hearted.” Commentary Magazine editor John Podhoretz called El-Sayed a “repellent terror-loving anti-Semite.” Michigan Young Republicans board member James Asher challenged a defending journalist’s framing of the clip as “out of context.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s funny cause, like, if we win, this is gonna be, like, the summer home,” — Abdul El-Sayed
- “El-Sayed was talking about the Mackinac Policy Conference, an annual gathering of policy pros and insiders that he argues brings together well-connected and powerful people and shuts most voters out of politics,” — Brad LaPlante, including journalist
