Michigan Senate Race Roiled by Controversial Third-Party Ad
Epidemiologist Abdul El-Sayed's campaign faces scrutiny over Cenk Uygur-funded advertisement linking US aid to Israel with domestic economic hardship.
Carla Rooney
A contentious third-party advertisement has injected fresh tension into Michigan's US Senate race.
Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist, campaigns for the US Senate in Michigan. Donald Trump won Michigan in both 2016 and 2024; Republican Mike Rogers aligns with Trump and appeared at a rally.
The controversy stems from an advertisement produced by The Rebellion Political Action Committee, funded by Cenk Uygur. The ad purports to support El-Sayed.
The ad claims Michigan families forgo groceries due to an affordability crisis and US funding to Israel for actions against Palestinians.
The advertisement featured a woman stating she could not afford eggs because money was used for 'killing Palestinians'. El-Sayed's team states he had no involvement in the ad and strongly condemns antisemitism.
Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the primary but later endorsed him, released a statement criticizing El-Sayed. She demanded he condemn the ad.
Stevens had previously announced she would attend a church service in Detroit with Dr. El-Sayed. Stevens's fiancé, Jason Turkish, stated he would vote for Rogers.
El-Sayed previously campaigned with Hasan Piker, who is Cenk Uygur's uncle.
The ad's messaging aligns with progressives and Democratic Socialists of America. These groups advocate cutting US support for Israel's military.
Democratic Socialists of America have seen successes in primary contests and local elections. Zohran Mamdani, elected in New York City, supports the DSA's agenda.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz made a statement about El-Sayed potentially serving on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Governor Abigail Spanberger argues against using the terms 'socialist' or 'socialism' in Democratic campaigns.
A broader debate saw Sanders supporters clash with Clinton supporters at the 2016 Democratic nominating convention. Kamala Harris's defeat in the 2024 presidential election has been partly attributed to her Middle East policy.
An autopsy into Harris's 2024 defeat did not mention Gaza.