In brief
During a Michigan campaign rally, J.D. Vance called Senate hopeful Abdul El‑Sayed a "very, very evil" person, alleging divisiveness and religious insensitivity. El‑Sayed retaliated with criticism of former Trump administration policies, framing them as "evil". The exchange has intensified an already heated Senate race between Vance ally Mike Rogers and the Muslim candidate, as early surveys show a slim lead for El‑Sayed. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, the clash highlights the growing clash over identity politics in a key battleground state.
U.S. Vice‑President J.D. Vance took to the stage at a Detroit‑suburb rally to describe Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed as "very, very evil". The former house speaker accused the Muslim hopeful of being divisive and of fostering multicultural conflict. Vance called on El‑Sayed to keep his wife’s name out of conversation after the candidate raised concerns about his late grandfather accepting a Hindu second wife.
El‑Sayed replied on Monday, targeting the Trump administration for pushing "evil" policies and launching conflicts abroad. He added that the former president’s tenure had seen Medicare cut, higher food and gas prices, trade wars and a disjointed view of American identity.
The confrontation came as the race heats up between the Republican ally of the former guy, Mike Rogers, and a Senate hopeful who has won a slim lead in early Michigan polls. Vance used social media and deleted or sanitized some of his own comments to keep his campaign legal.
According to a recent survey by Michigan‑based firm Epic‑MRA, El‑Sayed holds a four‑point lead over Rogers – a margin that could change as the election draws near. The state that was won by Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024 is earmarked as a decisive battleground for the 2026 midterm elections.
