Republicans Launch Campaign Targeting Michigan Senate Nominee Abdul El-Sayed

Republican leaders and candidates have launched a campaign against Abdul El-Sayed, the new Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, using rhetoric that critics describe as Islamophobic. The Senate Leadership Fund and GOP senators, including Ted Cruz and Tommy Tuberville, have labeled El-Sayed a "radical Islamist" and a "terrorist," claiming he supports the Muslim Brotherhood and Sharia law.

During a speech in Las Vegas, Donald Trump furthered these claims by asserting that El-Sayed hates Jews. Additionally, former Representative Mike Rogers and Senator Tom Cotton falsely attributed a comment about the 9/11 attacks to El-Sayed; the statement was actually made by streamer Hasan Piker, who campaigned with the nominee.

El-Sayed responded by stating that the GOP's focus on his faith and full name is intended "to insinuate that somehow I’m less American."