Michigan State Representative Karen Whitsett, a Democrat, has publicly criticized U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and other progressive leaders within her party, accusing them of taking Black voters for granted and suggesting the far-left wing of the party is "more racist than the KKK." Whitsett, who is retiring at the end of her term, stated that she does not believe El-Sayed's policies align with the best interests of Black Michiganders.
Whitsett specifically called out prominent Black figures and surrogates for El-Sayed, accusing them of perpetuating a system where Black voters are expected to support left-wing candidates without question. She characterized this dynamic as "different slave owners" and asserted that Black voters are "waking up" to their own power. "They they are the worst and the most racist that they're possibly ever could be. They're, I think, they're more racist than the KKK," Whitsett said, referring to some white women within the progressive movement.
While acknowledging the importance of healthcare access, Whitsett expressed skepticism about El-Sayed's support for Medicare for All, questioning its practical implementation and potential government overreach. "This Medicare for All, it's not for all. It's not going to change the dynamics of how many doctors there are, or nurses or blood draws or anything else. You're now going to put the government in your your health system, and they're going to decide for you," she stated.
El-Sayed has also faced scrutiny for his association with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has made controversial remarks in the past. Whitsett noted that Jewish Democrats in Michigan have also expressed feeling alienated by El-Sayed's politics and allies, citing concerns over antisemitism and what they perceive as a demonization of Jewish people. El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to requests for comment regarding Whitsett's criticisms.