Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed refused to apologize for a controversial "ogre on a pike" metaphor, asserting during a primary debate that the remark was aimed at Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, not his primary challenger, Rep. Haley Stevens.
El-Sayed made the comments, first reported by Politico, during a private Zoom meeting with donors. He explained that he intended to use a victory in Michigan's primary and the subsequent general election to build a national platform for progressive challenges, including potential primary contests against established figures.
"Ideally, you put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message," El-Sayed said, according to audio obtained by Politico. While he did not initially name Stevens, some Democrats interpreted the remark as a veiled attack against her. Rep. Hillary Scholten, who has endorsed Stevens, condemned the language as "violent, vulgar."
Neera Tanden, a former Biden administration official, suggested the remark contributed to broader accusations of sexism within the primary race. El-Sayed, however, rejected these claims, emphasizing his upbringing by strong women and arguing that past criticisms of public figures were misinterpreted.
Stevens responded to El-Sayed's clarification by highlighting other remarks attributed to him from the donor call, including criticisms of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, former Senator Debbie Stabenow, and State Senator Mallory McMorrow. "Thank you for clarifying that you didn’t call me an ogre," Stevens stated sarcastically.
Arik Wolk, a spokesperson for Stevens' campaign, accused El-Sayed of focusing on his national ambitions rather than Michigan's needs. Republicans also criticized El-Sayed's remarks. Michigan Republican strategist Dennis Lennox suggested El-Sayed's candidacy was intended to advance the national agenda of the progressive left.
The phrase "head on a pike" has previously ignited controversy in political discourse. In 2020, former Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon made a similar statement regarding federal officials, leading to his podcast account being suspended. Earlier, during President Donald Trump's first impeachment trial, a report emerged of a Trump confidant allegedly warning Republican senators against voting against the president, stating their "heads will be on a pike." At the time, Republican senators disputed the report, with Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski stating they had no knowledge of such threats.