Abdul El-Sayed Sees Opportunity to Be First Pro-Palestine Senator From Michigan
In a move that has drawn both praise and criticism, Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive darling of Michigan politics, is running for Senate in the swing state of Michigan. El-Sayed, who previously ran for governor in 2018 and lost, is now eyeing the top job in Washington D.C.
El-Sayed's campaign is built around a clear progressive agenda, with promises to provide universal healthcare, get money out of politics, and support the working class. He has already secured the endorsement of his longtime ally Senator Bernie Sanders and has been hailed as Michigan's analog to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
However, El-Sayed's campaign is not without its challenges. The Democratic primary in Michigan is shaping up to be a tough contest, with Rep. Haley Stevens and state Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow both vying for the nomination.
One key issue that has set El-Sayed apart from his opponents is his stance on Israel and Palestine. He was the first of the Michigan Senate candidates to call Israel's assault on Gaza a genocide, and has been vocal about his opposition to the Trump administration's policies towards the region.
McMorrow, meanwhile, has taken a more nuanced approach, initially avoiding use of the term "genocide" but eventually adopting it after criticism from El-Sayed. Her campaign has also faced questions about its ties to the Israel lobby, with McMorrow having publicly disavowed AIPAC and sworn she would not take the organization's contributions.
Stevens, on the other hand, has received significant funding from AIPAC, including $678,000 this year alone. Her campaign has also been accused of being too beholden to the Israel lobby, with El-Sayed accusing her of failing to stand up for Palestinian rights.
Despite these challenges, El-Sayed remains confident that he can win the primary and go on to become the first pro-Palestine Senator from Michigan. In an interview with The Intercept, he said: "I think we're going to build an even bigger one here in Michigan."
In a move that has drawn both praise and criticism, Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive darling of Michigan politics, is running for Senate in the swing state of Michigan. El-Sayed, who previously ran for governor in 2018 and lost, is now eyeing the top job in Washington D.C.
El-Sayed's campaign is built around a clear progressive agenda, with promises to provide universal healthcare, get money out of politics, and support the working class. He has already secured the endorsement of his longtime ally Senator Bernie Sanders and has been hailed as Michigan's analog to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
However, El-Sayed's campaign is not without its challenges. The Democratic primary in Michigan is shaping up to be a tough contest, with Rep. Haley Stevens and state Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow both vying for the nomination.
One key issue that has set El-Sayed apart from his opponents is his stance on Israel and Palestine. He was the first of the Michigan Senate candidates to call Israel's assault on Gaza a genocide, and has been vocal about his opposition to the Trump administration's policies towards the region.
McMorrow, meanwhile, has taken a more nuanced approach, initially avoiding use of the term "genocide" but eventually adopting it after criticism from El-Sayed. Her campaign has also faced questions about its ties to the Israel lobby, with McMorrow having publicly disavowed AIPAC and sworn she would not take the organization's contributions.
Stevens, on the other hand, has received significant funding from AIPAC, including $678,000 this year alone. Her campaign has also been accused of being too beholden to the Israel lobby, with El-Sayed accusing her of failing to stand up for Palestinian rights.
Despite these challenges, El-Sayed remains confident that he can win the primary and go on to become the first pro-Palestine Senator from Michigan. In an interview with The Intercept, he said: "I think we're going to build an even bigger one here in Michigan."
just heard about Abdul El-Sayed's campaign for Senate and gotta say... another politician making promises they might not be able to keep 
. And what's with the Israel-Palestine thing? Like, is it really that hard to take a side? 
either support Palestine or don't. Can't just claim you're for human rights but still get funding from AIPAC and expect everyone to trust you 
. Not convinced this guy is gonna follow through on his promises 
I'm loving this new development in MI politics! I've been following Abdul El-Sayed's journey for a while now and I gotta say, I'm super hyped about his candidacy 
. His stance on Palestine is so refreshing - it's not often you see politicians being so bold and unapologetic about standing up for the rights of an oppressed people 
.
. Rep Haley Stevens may have some great policies too, but her ties to AIPAC are major red flags in my book 
. 
his stance on Palestine is giving me hope like for real he's not afraid to speak out against the Israeli government's actions 
and I'm all about it 
but at the same time, I'm a bit worried about the primary in Michigan it's gonna be a tough fight with Stevens and McMorrow trying to take him down 
and we can't forget that McMorrow was slow to adopt "genocide" so I hope El-Sayed doesn't get caught up in that drama 
anyway, I think El-Sayed's got this he's been building a grassroots movement for years and his campaign is all about the people not just corporate interests 
. It's not easy to speak out against the powerful Israel lobby, but he's doing it anyway 
. And then there's Stevens who's basically got a big ol' "AIPAC for President" sign on her forehead 
. El-Sayed is the only one who seems genuine in his commitment to Palestinian rights 
. It's like, can you just say it? Is AIPAC's grip on our politicians too strong? 
. It shows she's not afraid to take a stand, even if it means going against the party line. I think El-Sayed's got this primary in the bag, and he'll be the first pro-Palestine Senator from Michigan 
. But what does that mean for the party as a whole? Are we finally gonna have some real progressive leadership? 
. He's got the progressive vibe going on, but his stance on Israel and Palestine is either too radical or just plain right 
. Either way, it's good to see someone speaking truth to power 