A newly surfaced 2016 video has reignited scrutiny of Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, with critics pointing to comments he made about residents of Flint while addressing an audience at Boston University. The footage, first reported by conservative journalist Chuck Ross, captures El-Sayed questioning why anyone would choose to live in Flint—a majority-Black city still recovering from the 2014 lead-contaminated water crisis. El-Sayed, who served as Detroit’s health director, remarked, “You talk to folks in Flint, they love Flint, right, and you’re like, ‘What the—why?’” during a health policy symposium. He later added that colleagues questioned his own decision to move to Detroit, saying, “To Detroit of all places. If you’re going to Cali, I get it, but Detroit? Their winters are worse than ours. There’s nothing there.”
The remarks come amid a tightly contested Senate race against Republican nominee Mike Rogers, who has accused El-Sayed of holding an “extreme” agenda, including calls to defund the police and support for the Green New Deal. Rogers, a former U.S. representative, has also highlighted El-Sayed’s past criticism of former President Barack Obama, noting that El-Sayed described Obama in 2012 as “not the right choice” to advance a progressive agenda. Obama is scheduled to campaign with El-Sayed in Detroit on October 24.
El-Sayed’s remarks on Flint and Detroit
El-Sayed’s 2016 comments were made during a discussion about urban relocation efforts in the wake of Flint’s water crisis. He suggested that residents’ attachment to the city defied logic, comparing it to his own move from New York to Detroit. “I had ruined my family’s life by moving from New York to Detroit,” he said, adding that his colleagues questioned his decision due to Detroit’s harsh winters and perceived lack of opportunities. The video resurfaced as El-Sayed, who owns property in Dubai, India, and the United Arab Emirates, has criticized Rogers for purchasing a home in Florida after leaving Congress.
Accusations of Muslim Brotherhood ties
El-Sayed has also faced questions about alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a claim his Republican opponent has repeatedly emphasized. During an October 11 appearance on Meet the Press, moderator Kristen Welker asked El-Sayed to clarify whether he or his family had any connections to the group, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government in some branches. El-Sayed responded “No” when asked if he had ties, and “No” when asked if his family did. He later argued that the line of questioning was an attempt to distract from policy debates, stating, “[Rogers’s] only strategy is to point to me and my name and my faith and to say that we’re different. And that you should suspect people simply because they are different than you in how they pray.”
The controversy deepened after the Washington Free Beacon published social media posts from El-Sayed’s half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, a University of Chicago professor, in which she referenced her family’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in 2012 and 2013. Abdelhadi wrote in a June 24, 2012, post, “My family has long been MB,” though she did not specify which branch or affiliation. El-Sayed has not directly addressed these posts beyond his earlier denials.
Rogers’ campaign strategy and policy attacks
Rogers has framed the race as a referendum on Democratic socialism, warning voters that El-Sayed’s policies would harm Michigan. In a Fox News town hall on October 17, Rogers accused El-Sayed of a “pattern of deception” and called him a “manufactured candidate.” He highlighted El-Sayed’s past support for policies such as defunding the police and the Green New Deal, which Rogers argued would be detrimental to the state’s economy. Rogers also claimed his campaign had identified opportunities to sway traditionally Democratic voting blocs, including Black and Jewish voters, citing feedback from community leaders. “We have just dozens of Black pastors that we have talked to, neighborhood leaders in the city of Detroit that we’ve talked to. They’re looking for a change,” Rogers said.
The Jewish community has emerged as a focal point in the race, with Rogers suggesting El-Sayed’s past criticism of Israel could alienate Jewish voters. El-Sayed has declined to directly compare Iran and Israel as threats, stating in a recent interview that “both of them have proven dangerous in their own way.” His campaign has not provided further clarification on his stance regarding Israel.
Campaign dynamics and upcoming events
The race remains highly competitive, with both campaigns emphasizing grassroots outreach. Rogers’ campaign claims to have knocked on nearly 6 million doors across Michigan, while El-Sayed has secured high-profile support, including an appearance with former President Obama. The final stretch of the campaign includes a scheduled rally in Detroit, where Obama is set to endorse El-Sayed ahead of the November 3 election. Polling in the race has shown tight margins, with both candidates vying for undecided voters in key demographics.