💛 A quick favor, if you've got a second.
We're really happy that you chose to read one of our stories and sincerely hope you'll stick around to read more. We took our paywall down — for now — but that won't last forever, and when the gate goes back up, we'd love for you to already be on the inside.
It's free. So please enter your email here and don't forget to like and follow us on all of your favorite Social Media platforms!
Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed openly invited further attacks from President Donald Trump on Saturday, arguing that the former president’s criticism would inadvertently boost his national standing in a highly competitive race for an open Senate seat. Speaking during an interview, El-Sayed expressed confidence that Trump’s confrontational tactics would backfire and ultimately serve his electoral interests.
El-Sayed characterized Trump’s attacks as ineffective and suggested his wife possessed greater strength than the former president. He predicted that Trump would transform him into a central figure in midterm election coverage, a development he claimed to welcome. El-Sayed also criticized Republican opponent Mike Rogers as a non-player character, using video game terminology to describe what he portrayed as a lack of independent political identity.
The Republican National Committee’s national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre responded sharply to El-Sayed’s candidacy, arguing his policy positions and past associations would create liability for Democrats nationwide. Baldassarre referenced El-Sayed’s campaign appearances with far-left content creator Hasan Piker, who has made controversial statements about the September 11 attacks.
A Fox News Poll released Thursday showed Rogers leading El-Sayed 51% to 47%, the first survey conducted after the primary election. The race is considered critical for Democrats’ efforts to reduce the Republican Senate majority. El-Sayed would become the first Muslim U.S. senator if elected and would succeed retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
Rogers, who received Trump’s endorsement, narrowly lost Michigan’s 2024 Senate race to Democratic Senator Elisa Slotkin by approximately 19,000 votes. El-Sayed has campaigned on policies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement abolition, Medicare-for-all, and tuition-free higher education, positioning himself as a progressive rather than a socialist.
More Stories
Senate Faces Deadline on Permanent Daylight Saving Time as House Advances Sunshine Protection Act
Los Angeles Teachers Conduct Neighborhood Patrols for ICE as District Distances Itself From Effort
Pentagon Awards Raytheon $22.9 Billion Contract to Ramp Up Tomahawk Missile Production