President Donald Trump accused Abdul El-Sayed of being part of the Muslim Brotherhood and called the candidate a "vicious, violent jihadist" who has "no place in our government". The 41-year-old Democrat is running for Michigan's open US Senate seat on 3 November 2026 against Republican Mike Rogers.
Rogers, who is 63 years old, argued that El-Sayed's support for progressive policies and universal healthcare places the candidate outside the political mainstream. The Republican candidate based national security claims on a 2012 group letter signed by El-Sayed and described the Democrat's adherence as a "radical Islamic agenda".
El-Sayed disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood and denied any connection to Islamist extremism while describing himself as a capitalist who rejects the socialist label. Cole Wozniak, a spokesperson for the El-Sayed campaign, accused Rogers of resorting to "desperate, bad faith attacks".
The latest RealClearPolitics Poll Average shows El-Sayed leading by 2.5 percentage points statewide, an increase from a 1.9% lead this weekend. NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the attacks surrounding the Michigan Senate race "unacceptable and disgusting".
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority. Donald Trump carried Michigan by 1.4 points in 2024.
El-Sayed's primary opponent was Representative Haley Stevens. The El-Sayed campaign did not immediately respond to a query regarding the 2012 letter.
