Vance calls Michigan Senate candidate El-Sayed ‘evil’ at campaign rally
US Vice-President JD Vance branded Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed "very, very evil" during a campaign rally for Republican rival Mike Rogers, accusing him of being divisive and linking him to controversial figures. The exchange has escalated an already bitter contest in a key battleground state, with Vance also warning El-Sayed to stop referencing his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, after the candidate suggested Vance's late grandfather would not have accepted her because she is Hindu. El-Sayed responded in kind, accusing the Trump administration of pursuing "evil" policies, deepening the personal animosity in a race that has become one of the most closely watched of the midterms.
Vance told the Detroit-area rally that El-Sayed, who is Muslim, sought to "destroy" the country and accused him of associating with "terrorist sympathisers", repeatedly tying him to far-left streamer Hasan Piker despite El-Sayed having distanced himself from Piker's remarks about the 9/11 attacks. In a CNN interview, the 41-year-old El-Sayed hit back, describing "evil" as cutting healthcare for tax breaks, raising costs for ordinary people, and dividing communities for political gain. Michigan, won by Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024, is a pivotal battleground, and a recent Epic-MRA poll put El-Sayed four points ahead of Rogers, a former law enforcement officer.
In short
- Vance called Senate candidate El-Sayed "evil" at a Michigan rally.
- Vance warned El-Sayed over comments about his Hindu wife.
- El-Sayed leads Rogers by four points in a key battleground poll.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Vance’s supporters could argue that a senior national figure should forcefully challenge a candidate whose public associations and comments raise concerns about extremism and national unity. They may see his criticism as a legitimate part of a high-stakes campaign, while also defending his right to object to remarks they view as disrespectful towards his wife and her faith.
The case against
El-Sayed’s supporters could argue that calling a Muslim candidate “evil” and repeatedly linking him to a commentator whose remarks he has rejected risks replacing scrutiny of his own record with guilt by association. They may regard El-Sayed’s response as a substantive criticism of policies he believes harm ordinary people, and see personal attacks as deepening divisions rather than helping voters assess the candidates.
Explained simply
Michigan is a politically competitive state in the US, and its Senate seat is being contested in the midterm elections. Abdul El-Sayed, a doctor and former state health official, is seeking the Democratic nomination; Mike Rogers, a former lawmaker and FBI agent, is running as a Republican.
The race has drawn national attention because control of the Senate can affect the passage of laws and the balance of power in Washington. Vice-President JD Vance is campaigning for Rogers, while El-Sayed has criticised policies of the Trump administration.
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