Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing widespread criticism for comments he made about Vice President JD Vance's wife, Usha Vance. Critics contend El-Sayed's remarks, made during an escalating political dispute, crossed a line by targeting a politician's spouse and invoking her Indian heritage in a potentially disparaging way.
The controversy began when JD Vance attacked El-Sayed's past statements on Sharia law during a rally. In response, El-Sayed posted on X, formerly Twitter, asking, "So do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no…" Vance had invoked his late maternal grandfather, James 'Papaw' Vance, in his criticism of El-Sayed.
El-Sayed's comment was interpreted by many as an insinuation that Usha Vance, the daughter of Indian immigrants, might have faced hostility from Vance's white Midwestern grandfather due to her heritage. This interpretation quickly led to accusations of racism and sexism directed at El-Sayed.
Former Florida state Rep. Ben Graber was among the first to criticize the remark, stating on X, "El Sayed is now attacking Wives [sic] of US leaders? What a guy." Republican Texas Rep. Brandon Gill questioned why El-Sayed would "assume that all White midwestern grandparents are racist?" Political commentator Ryan Girdusky argued that the comment suggested El-Sayed believes rural white Americans in Michigan are racist.
Further fueling the backlash, an X account supporting El-Sayed's Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, accused El-Sayed of having "contempt for women" and cited past primary campaign attacks against him. Journalist Emily Schrader directly called El-Sayed a "racist creep."
El-Sayed also made a separate online remark about Natalie Harp, an aide to former President Donald Trump, following an attack on El-Sayed by Trump. In response to Trump's criticism over El-Sayed's association with streamer Hasan Piker, El-Sayed tweeted at Harp, "Natalie, I think he’s had a little too much iPad for the week. He needs his rest."
GOP strategist Matt Whitlock shared screenshots of both remarks, characterizing them as evidence of "bad campaign, bad candidate, bad instincts." Tudor Dixon, former Republican candidate for Michigan governor, suggested that El-Sayed's targeting of women not directly involved in his political fights raises questions about how he would treat female staffers in Congress.
Usha Vance, who met JD Vance at Yale Law School, is a lawyer and the mother of their four children. She has generally maintained a lower political profile despite her husband's position as Vice President.
Abdul El-Sayed, 41, is the Democratic nominee for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat and is running against former Republican congressman Mike Rogers in the November election. This race has become a closely watched contest in the state.