Michigan's 2026 Senate race is marked by controversy surrounding Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed's political affiliations and policy positions. As El-Sayed seeks to moderate his image, he is drawing sharp criticism from Republicans who argue his ties to progressive figures and groups contradict his claims of not being a socialist.
El-Sayed, who launched his Senate bid in April 2025, has reportedly distanced himself from some past positions and removed left-wing content from the internet. He has publicly stated he is "not a socialist" and believes in regulated capitalism. However, critics point to his appearances and endorsements from individuals and organizations associated with socialist ideologies.
Florida Representative Kat Cammack has criticized El-Sayed's platform, characterizing it as a "socialist agenda" that would harm working-class families. Republicans have made El-Sayed's associations a central theme of their campaign against him.
Notable figures backing El-Sayed include Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent often described as a socialist, who endorsed El-Sayed's 2026 Senate bid on the day it launched, and had also supported his 2018 gubernatorial run. U.S. Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Summer Lee, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are also listed as vocal supporters.
El-Sayed has also been linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). While he told The Wall Street Journal in July that he is "not technically or practically DSA," socialist organizers have referred to him as "a longtime friend of Detroit DSA." Between 2017 and 2020, El-Sayed reportedly spoke at six DSA events, including a 2019 fundraiser where he was the keynote speaker. DSA officials also stated they were mobilizing resources to support his primary election.
Recent scrutiny has focused on William Lawrence, a DSA member running for Congress in Michigan who campaigned alongside El-Sayed. Lawrence, on a podcast, called for "destroying the American way of life" in a context discussing negative material realities associated with the term. El-Sayed's campaign has stated that no one speaks for their campaign besides El-Sayed and his spokespeople.
Ties to Controversial Figures
El-Sayed's primary victory was aided by strong support from Michigan's Arab American community, and he has maintained connections within the state's Muslim community. However, some individuals he has appeared with or received support from have made controversial statements. Amir Makled, a candidate for the University of Michigan's board of regents who celebrated members of Hezbollah as "martyrs," introduced El-Sayed at a campaign rally in April.
In June, El-Sayed participated in the opening of Imam Hassan Qazwini’s Islamic Institute of America. Qazwini has been criticized for past statements, including claims that Israel was behind ISIS, referring to a Hezbollah leader as a hero, and describing Sanders as honorable "even though he is a Jew." Sanders' 2020 campaign denounced Qazwini as antisemitic. Qazwini has urged his congregation to vote for El-Sayed, deeming it a "moral responsibility" and "religious duty."
El-Sayed also shared a stage in June with Sheikh Fadhel al-Sahlani at the institute's opening. Al-Sahlani reportedly praised Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack and downplayed Holocaust casualties. El-Sayed is scheduled to appear at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual convention on September 5 with Qazwini, Imam Baqir Berry, who prayed for victory for Islamic holy soldiers in Gaza, and Siraj Wahhaj, who was named as a possible co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Associations with Nation of Islam
Further complicating El-Sayed's image are his ties to individuals associated with the Nation of Islam. While the organization's teachings, including those under leader Louis Farrakhan, are not considered orthodox by most Islamic leaders and have drawn criticism for antisemitic and anti-white rhetoric, El-Sayed has appeared with figures linked to it. Marcus Muhammad, a mayor and Nation of Islam minister, has been photographed with El-Sayed. The leader of the Nation of Islam's Detroit chapter also posted a picture shaking hands with El-Sayed at a 2025 NAACP event.
El-Sayed also received backing from a Detroit-area pastor who previously praised Farrakhan. This pastor, in a 2013 statement, called for direction and organization, and referred to those seeking to silence speakers as part of a struggle against an unseen force.
Republicans contend that El-Sayed's associations with these figures are a liability. El-Sayed's campaign, however, has pushed back, highlighting controversial associations within the campaign of the GOP nominee, Mike Rogers. According to El-Sayed's spokesman, members of Rogers' campaign team have allegedly complained about women in politics, defended a group chat with racial slurs and offensive jokes, and one senior leader reportedly dismissed allegations of childhood sexual abuse. The spokesman characterized Rogers as a "corrupt politician" focused on self-enrichment and special interests.