Full Breakdown
Michigan Senate Race Heats Up as Trump Targets Abdul El-Sayed with Islamophobic Rhetoric
By Drooid · · How we work
Trump’s anti-Muslim attacks at a Michigan rally
On Sunday, former President Donald Trump addressed about 4,000 supporters in Port Huron, Michigan, and framed Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed as a security threat. He called the candidate a “jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member” and said El-Sayed would have to pass through a metal detector before entering the Senate chamber. The remarks were part of a broader effort to link El-Sayed to extremist groups and portray his potential election as a danger to national security.
Campaign landscape: candidates, endorsements, and voter concerns
El-Sayed, a former Detroit public-health official, is backed by the United Auto Workers, the Detroit Federation of Teachers, Senator Bernie Sanders and former President Barack Obama. He emphasizes Medicare-for-All, corporate-PAC reform, and targeted tariffs.
Republican nominee Mike Rogers, a former U.S. congressman, aligns closely with Trump, echoing accusations that El-Sayed receives money from organizations designated as terrorist groups.
Recent polls show a narrow Democratic edge, with margins of error exceeding 2 percentage points, keeping the race within statistical noise.
Gas prices have become a focal issue. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Michigan was $4.83 on the day of Trump’s rally, up sharply from $2.91 before the war in Iran began on Feb 28, 2026.
Official statements & responses
President Obama, speaking at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, praised El-Sayed’s commitment to “affordable healthcare” and warned that Trump’s attacks “won’t work in Michigan.”
Criticism & opposition
Bishara Bahbah, founder of Arab Americans for Trump, called Trump’s comments “out of line” and “racist,” noting backlash from Arab-American voters. Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek said El-Sayed’s “hyper-focused” stance on Israel alienated many Jewish voters.
Conflicting reports & gaps
Polls differ on the exact size of El-Sayed’s lead, ranging from a 1-point to a 4-point advantage, and none account for potential turnout variations among Black voters in Detroit. No credible evidence has emerged to substantiate the claims linking El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood or other terrorist organizations.
Why it matters
The Michigan seat is one of only about seven toss-up Senate races in the 2026 midterms. Republicans hold a 53-seat majority; flipping Michigan would reduce that margin and could affect legislation on healthcare, tariffs, and the ongoing Iran conflict. If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim and first Egyptian-American U.S. senator.
Timeline
- Oct 24 2026 – El-Sayed rallies in Detroit, emphasizing healthcare and tariff reform.
- Oct 26 2026 – Trump rallies in Port Huron; Obama rallies in Detroit on the first day of early voting.
- Oct 21 2026 – InsiderAdvantage poll shows 47-46 lead for El-Sayed.
- Oct 15 2026 – Marist poll reports 50-48 lead.
- Oct 5 2026 – Quantus Insights poll records 48-47 lead.
- Feb 28 2026 – U.S. and Israel launch war on Iran, later driving up Michigan gasoline prices.
Verbatim quotes
- “I’m here to keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator.” — Donald Trump
- “He would be the only senator that will have to go through a metal detector before he’s allowed to go into the Senate.” — Donald Trump
- “This DSA-affiliated candidate is also taking a lot of money from organizations that support the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and Hezbollah.” — Mike Rogers