Radical Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing significant backlash for a racially charged remark directed at Second Lady Usha Vance, a move that insiders suggest is backfiring and could alienate crucial voting blocs, including Michigan's Indian-American community and women. El-Sayed's comment, posted to X, alluded to Vance's husband, Vice President JD Vance, by asking, "So do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no…"
One Republican insider described the jab as unprovoked and indicative of El-Sayed's "Napoleon complex," suggesting he "victimiz[es] women to look tough." While Vice President Vance has not directly addressed the remark, he is expected to campaign in Michigan's 10th Congressional District near Detroit on Monday, where insiders anticipate a strong response.
Sunny Reddy, co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, stated that family members should be off-limits in political discourse. "We may have differences. We attack each other. But going to the family and the kids is a disaster," Reddy said. He predicted that El-Sayed's comments would negatively affect his standing with middle-aged women, Indian-Americans, and other ethnic groups, particularly referencing a previous remark where El-Sayed questioned Usha Vance's thoughts during her pregnancy. The state party and Indian-American leaders have demanded an apology from El-Sayed.
Usha Vance herself addressed a similar remark from El-Sayed during an appearance on "The Allen Analysis Show" podcast in April, where he stated, "What do you think is going through Usha’s head when [JD Vance] talks? She’s like, ‘Damn, I have to sleep with him.' I guess she’s pregnant so something is happening." Vance told Fox News that she initially laughed at the comment but countered it by highlighting the kindness of JD Vance's children toward her and suggesting his late father, James Lee Vance, known as "Pawpaw," would have acted similarly. Vance invoked his "Pawpaw" in Ohio last Friday, accusing El-Sayed of labeling critics of Sharia law as white supremacists.
Michigan's 10th Congressional District is a key battleground, with El-Sayed holding a narrow lead over Republican challenger Mike Rogers in recent averages. The state ranks third nationally in female voter participation, with approximately 69% of women turning out to vote, about 10 points above the national average. Republicans are seeking to attract South Asian voters in the district, where El-Sayed's parents are Egyptian immigrants.
In related news, El-Sayed has also faced pressure from within his own party regarding his association with Hasan Piker, who has been accused of antisemitism. While El-Sayed appeared with Democratic representatives Jamie Raskin and Debbie Dingell at a campaign event in Ann Arbor, Dingell stated that the issue of Piker was "not what November is about." Former Bill Clinton advisor James Carville expressed discomfort with El-Sayed's ties to Piker, urging El-Sayed to clearly articulate his disagreements with Piker's controversial statements.