Democrat socialist candidate under fire after taking shots at JD Vance’s wife
Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has faced a fierce backlash after a social media post appearing to reference Vice President JD Vance's wife Usha's Indian heritage during a political spat. The row began after Vance criticised El-Sayed's past comments on Sharia law at an Ohio rally, invoking his late grandfather, prompting El-Sayed to suggest on X that Vance's grandfather might not have welcomed Usha. Critics accused El-Sayed of racism and sexism, arguing he had improperly dragged a politician's spouse into the dispute and implied that white Midwesterners are inherently racist.
El-Sayed, 41, is the Democratic nominee for Michigan's Senate seat, running against Republican Mike Rogers in a closely fought race. Figures including Texas Congressman Brandon Gill, commentator Ryan Girdusky and journalist Emily Schrader condemned the remark, with one calling him a "racist creep," while a pro-Rogers account cited it as evidence of past accusations that El-Sayed harbours "contempt for women." Usha Vance, a lawyer and daughter of Indian immigrants who met JD Vance at Yale Law School, has kept a relatively low political profile and recently gave birth to the couple's fourth child.
- El-Sayed's post about Usha Vance sparked accusations of racism and sexism
- Row erupted after Vance criticised El-Sayed's Sharia law comments in Ohio
- El-Sayed faces Mike Rogers in a tight Michigan Senate race
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Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, 41, is running as the Democratic nominee for a US Senate seat in Michigan against Republican Mike Rogers, in a tightly contested race. A public argument broke out between him and Vice President JD Vance after Vance criticised El-Sayed's past comments on Sharia law during a rally in Ohio, referencing his own late grandfather. El-Sayed responded on social media with a remark about whether Vance's grandfather would have accepted Usha Vance, JD Vance's wife.
Usha Vance is a lawyer and the daughter of Indian immigrants, who met JD Vance while they were both studying at Yale Law School. She has generally kept a low profile in political life and has recently had a fourth child with her husband. El-Sayed's comment was widely interpreted as referencing her ethnic background, which drew strong criticism from various political figures and commentators.
This exchange matters because it has become a flashpoint in a competitive Senate race, with critics accusing El-Sayed of racism and sexism and using the remark to question his broader record and conduct. Supporters and opponents alike are likely to cite the episode as the contest continues.