Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed drew a comparison between his progressive policy positions and the teachings of Jesus Christ during a podcast appearance in May. Responding to a question about how his faith as a Muslim informs his campaign stances, El-Sayed addressed the label of "radical" often applied to his platform, which includes policies such as Medicare for All, an anti-war stance, and opposition to corporate money in politics.
During an episode of The Progressive Christians Podcast, host Rev. Blair Stowe noted that many of these progressive policies appear similar to Christian teachings and asked El-Sayed about the "radical" label. El-Sayed responded, "Well, you know, Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, was considered radical in his time too. And there is a radical nature to being willing to stand forthright in a time of corruption, and I think it's important for all of us to realize that popularity and zeitgeist don't make truth. And we live in a time where people are trying to normalize corruption."
El-Sayed is currently engaged in a competitive race against Republican nominee Mike Rogers, with the outcome potentially influencing the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. His primary victory over Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., was seen as a significant win for progressives within the Democratic Party.
The campaign has seen both candidates utilize faith in their political messaging. A spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee criticized El-Sayed, stating, "A radical Muslim with a self-proclaimed 'obligation' to Sharia law has gone from excusing violent attacks on Jewish Michiganders to comparing himself to Jesus Christ. Abdul El-Sayed is unfit to represent Michigan, and he proves it every time he attacks other faiths."
In a separate interview on the "I’ve Had It" podcast, El-Sayed addressed attacks from Rogers regarding his Muslim faith. El-Sayed suggested Rogers was overlooking the core tenets of Christianity, stating, "He’s going to hide behind this simulacrum of faith, which clearly, you know, if you followed the teachings of Jesus Christ, it was about upending the system against the richest and most powerful in the ways that they used their power and their money to subjugate other people. Like, that was the essential teaching."