Story perspectives

Vance Attacks El-Sayed Over Sharia Support in Ohio

8/24/2026

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Vance Accuses

U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivered a speech at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Middletown Works plant in Ohio on Friday, accusing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed of supporting Sharia law.
The speech distorted El-Sayed’s 2022 comments on an Oklahoma Sharia ban, recasting his criticism as white-supremacy rhetoric.
El-Sayed responded that Vance’s remarks implied some Americans are more patriotic than others.
A Washington Post analysis linked the primary win to a spike in anti-Muslim social-media posts.

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Vance Targets

Vice President JD Vance spoke at Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works steel plant in Middletown, Ohio, accusing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed of supporting Sharia law.
His grandfather, a 40-year welder who voted Democrat, was cited to claim the party has abandoned its working-class, union roots.
He noted El-Sayed, son of Muslim Egyptian immigrants, said criticizing Sharia equated to white supremacy.
The Michigan Senate race between El-Sayed and Mike Rogers is pivotal for Senate control.

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Vance Accuses

U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivered a speech at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Middletown Works plant in Ohio on Friday, accusing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed of supporting Sharia law.
The speech distorted El-Sayed’s 2022 comments on an Oklahoma Sharia ban, recasting his criticism as white-supremacy rhetoric.
El-Sayed responded that Vance’s remarks implied some Americans are more patriotic than others.
A Washington Post analysis linked the primary win to a spike in anti-Muslim social-media posts.

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