Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed refused to apologise during a primary debate for his controversial "ogre on a pike" remark, after the comment drew criticism from figures on both sides of the political aisle who called it violent and, in some instances, sexist. When pressed on whether he regretted the rhetoric, El-Sayed instead clarified that the target of the remark was Senator John Fetterman, D-Penn., rather than his primary rival Haley Stevens, as some had assumed, and stood firmly by his comments.

The exchange came during the final debate before Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, with El-Sayed and Stevens also clashing over other issues, including his claim that $46 million in AIPAC-linked spending had influenced her position on Israel, and her counter-questioning of him over his tax returns and outside income. The "ogre on a pike" remark had previously leaked and prompted backlash from within his own party, adding to tensions in an already heated primary contest.