One of the most closely watched races in the midterm elections is in Michigan between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers. El-Sayed is a former public health official who is campaigning on a platform of Medicare for All, ending military aid to Israel, and getting corporate money out of politics. Rogers is a former Republican congressman backed by President Trump.
If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate. During Wednesday’s debate in Michigan, Rogers repeated the claim, without providing evidence, that El-Sayed has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has repeatedly denied the accusation.
“If Abdul El-Sayed wins, it will be a reminder that the left can win in a swing state like Michigan,” says Mehdi Hasan, editor-in-chief of Zeteo. “And it will be actually a moment to say, 'You know what? Americans rejected Islamophobia.'”