Michigan Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed asserted Saturday that his Muslim identity is being used by critics to question his electability, a claim that a recent poll suggests may not fully account for potential challenges in a general election.

During a rally in Grand Rapids, El-Sayed stated that concerns about his electability are not about his qualifications but rather about his name and religious practices. "When they say I’m not electable, they’re not talking about me," El-Sayed said. "They’re saying that you couldn’t possibly be open-minded enough … to elect somebody with a name like mine who prays like I do in a state like ours."

El-Sayed is engaged in a closely contested primary race against U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens. The contest has become one of the most expensive Democratic primaries, with significant funding from PACs, including one associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

In a recent EPIC-MRA poll, El-Sayed was shown trailing Republican Mike Rogers 46% to 43% in a hypothetical general election matchup. Stevens, however, was projected to win against Rogers, 44% to 42%.

Despite these projections, El-Sayed, who has endorsements from figures like Bernie Sanders, remains a frontrunner in most Democratic primary polling, even as Stevens garners support from more traditional party factions.

El-Sayed, a former public health official for Wayne County and the city of Detroit, has emphasized his personal background during his campaign. He referenced past uneasiness surrounding Muslim and Arab Americans following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

He urged supporters to counter arguments about his general election viability by highlighting shared values. "Electability has nothing to do with the color of your skin or how you pray or what your name is," El-Sayed stated. "Electability has a lot more to do with whether or not you see what is possible when all of us come together around our shared values."

He pointed to the election of former President Barack Obama, who also has a distinctive name, as evidence of voter open-mindedness.

Some of El-Sayed’s critics have raised electability concerns related to his progressive policy positions and his association with controversial left-wing figures. One such figure, streamer Hasan Piker, has made past statements deemed offensive, including remarks about the September 11th attacks and the October 7th Hamas attack. El-Sayed has distanced himself from Piker’s most extreme comments but has acknowledged campaigning with him, stating he does not believe in "cancel culture."

El-Sayed has adopted progressive stances, such as advocating for Medicare for All with no copays or deductibles, while also identifying as a capitalist. He distinguishes his view from "corporatism," which he argues prioritizes corporate interests and quarterly profits over sustainable economic practices.

Initially, El-Sayed indicated opposition to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, favoring Senator Chris Van Hollen. However, when pressed, El-Sayed allowed for potential flexibility, stating, "A vote is a choice between two or more options. I don’t know what other options are. If it happened to be a guy named John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, or Chuck Schumer, well then, I’d make a different decision."

El-Sayed also affirmed that he would support Stevens if she secures the Democratic nomination.