Abdul El-Sayed Faces GOP Attacks

What happened

Updated Oct 28, 4:37pm ET

Abdul El-Sayed faces Republican attacks questioning his loyalty and linking him to extremism in Michigan's Senate race. Some Dearborn voters who backed Trump in 2024 now say they plan to support El-Sayed, citing anger over U.S. support for Israel in Gaza. El-Sayed, a Muslim physician, is challenging Republican Mike Rogers for Democratic Sen. Gary Peters's open seat. If elected, he would be the first Muslim senator; polls show him narrowly ahead in a close race. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have tied him to terrorism or the Muslim Brotherhood; his campaign says Republicans are misrepresenting him. Unresolved questions include whether the attacks move voters before Election Day and whether El-Sayed broadens support among Black and Jewish voters.

How the left told it

Left-leaning outlets framed the attacks as Islamophobic pressure in a race with historic stakes for Muslim representation and Senate control. HuffPost emphasized that Republicans were leaning on anti-Muslim bigotry, while presenting an El-Sayed win as a major GOP defeat. The New Yorker lingered on Arab American criticism from a former Trump campaign ally, casting it as a sign of disillusionment.

How the right told it

Right-leaning outlets framed El-Sayed around loyalty, security and electability rather than historic representation. The New York Post pointed to his past writings and alleged Islamist ties as signs of hostility toward America. Breitbart focused on campaign strain, awkward outreach and Democratic help aimed at Black voters. Fox News centered Jewish-voter tensions, with de Jon Lovett saying backing El-Sayed was a moral obligation.