Full Breakdown
Abdul El-Sayed’s Faith-Focused Campaign Stirs Fierce Backlash in Michigan’s 2026 Senate Race
By Drooid · · How we work
The Campaign’s New Faith Ad
A 30-second television spot released this week shows Dr. El-Sayed framing his personal belief as a public virtue. The ad appears as a direct response to Republican attacks that have labeled him a “jihadist” and a “Muslim radical.”
Background: A Tight Midterm Contest
The Michigan U.S. Senate seat is one of the nation’s most closely watched races. El-Sayed, a former Detroit public-health official, faces former Republican congressman and ex-FBI special agent Mike Rogers. Control of the Senate hinges on the outcome, with the general election scheduled for November 3.
Upper Peninsula Tour and Voter Outreach
El-Sayed traveled the Upper Peninsula, drawing roughly 500 attendees to a barn-style rally in Escanaba and a later 1,200-person gathering in Marquette. He highlighted “common-sense” concerns: high gas and grocery prices, rural health-care access, and student-loan debt.
- Nearly one-third of Upper Peninsula residents are enrolled in Medicare, and 7 % lack any insurance.
- About 60 % of Upper Peninsula voters supported President Donald Trump in 2024.
GOP Attacks Centered on Faith and Alleged Ties
Republican leaders have intensified personal attacks. President Donald Trump, in an Oval-Office video, referred to El-Sayed as “Mohammed Abdul El-Sayed” and called him “absolutely Muslim Brotherhood.” Mike Rogers, speaking at Birch Run Speedway, demanded that El-Sayed “disavow the Muslim Brotherhood.”
El-Sayed responded by swearing an oath to the Constitution and stating he “clearly condemned” the Muslim Brotherhood when pressed at a town-hall.
Official Statements & Responses
- El-Sayed: Emphasized that the faith-based ad is about values, not religion, and reiterated his platform on Medicare for All, affordable education and a reduced military budget.
- Rogers: “It’s never been about how you pray.”
- President Trump: Reiterated his claim that the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization, citing the administration’s 2024 designation.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere.”
Criticism & Opposition
Republican critics argue that El-Sayed’s “defund the police” comment and progressive health-care proposals would raise taxes and burden working families.
Data & Statistics
- Upper Peninsula Medicare enrollment: ~33 %
- Uninsured rate: 7 %
- 2024 Trump vote share in the Upper Peninsula: 60 %
- Event attendance: 500 at Escanaba, 1,200 at Marquette
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Allegations of Muslim Brotherhood ties: Rogers and Trump assert El-Sayed has not disavowed the group, while El-Sayed claims he “clearly condemned” it. No evidence has been presented.
- Defund-the-Police claim: El-Sayed’s 2020 interview framed the phrase as a call to eliminate the causes of crime; opponents interpret it as a literal policy proposal.
What’s Next
- November 3: Voters will decide the Senate seat, a race that could determine which party controls the chamber.
- October 24: Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to rally with El-Sayed in Detroit.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I call him Mohammed. Somebody said, ‘His name isn’t Mohammed; it’s Abdul,’” — Donald Trump
- “JD Vance called me a little weasel today,” — Abdul El-Sayed
- “If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere,” — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
- “I'm going to swear an oath to the Constitution of the United States,” — Abdul El-Sayed