Michigan voters will hear a new angle on Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed as he attempts to distance himself from past socialist affiliations while still sharing stages with controversial figures. Since launching his campaign in April 2025, El‑Sayed has removed many left‑wing posts from the internet and repeatedly told reporters he is “not a socialist” and believes in regulated capitalism.
Controversial allies on the campaign trail
Despite his statements, El‑Sayed has appeared alongside Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has previously suggested America “deserved” the September 11 attacks. He has also accepted endorsements from prominent members of the Democratic Socialists of America, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Summer Lee and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez.
More troubling to many Michigan residents are El‑Sayed’s connections to radical Islamic clerics. He introduced the campaign rally of Amir Makled, a regent‑candidate who praised Hezbollah martyrs, and later headlined the opening of Imam Hassan Qazwini’s Islamic Institute of America, calling the mosque “incredible.” Qazwini has a history of claiming Israel was behind ISIS and praising the October 7 Hamas attack. At the same event, El‑Sayed shared the stage with Sheikh Fadhel al‑Sahlani, who has downplayed Holocaust deaths.
Republican response and broader implications
Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers, who faces El‑Sayed in November, has highlighted his own controversial allies, noting that some have questioned the 2020 election results and advocated banning gay marriage. Nonetheless, GOP campaign ads are focusing on El‑Sayed’s ties to extremist voices as a warning to voters.
Critics also point to El‑Sayed’s involvement with the Nation of Islam, a group whose teachings include anti‑Jewish rhetoric and claims of Black racial superiority. Detroit‑area pastor Marcus Muhammad, a Nation of Islam minister, posted photos with El‑Sayed at an election‑night watch party, and the Detroit chapter leader shared a picture of the two shaking hands at a 2025 NAACP event.
What voters need to know
El‑Sayed’s platform includes support for easy access to abortion and pediatric gender treatments, as well as a personal desire to live according to Sharia law. While he emphasizes regulated capitalism, his continued association with radical figures raises concerns among faith‑based and traditional‑family voters who prioritize constitutional liberty and community values.
As the September 5 Islamic Society of North America convention approaches, where El‑Sayed is slated to appear with Qazwini and other controversial clerics, Michigan voters will have to weigh his policy positions against the company he keeps.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
