Michigan Senate hopeful paid strategist who praised Nation of Islam figure

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Michigan, paid strategist Terra DeFoe more than $8,000 in two campaign payments between late August and mid-September, according to a review of campaign filings. The disclosure has drawn criticism because DeFoe previously posted a photo with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has made antisemitic remarks, as El-Sayed faces scrutiny over his own comments on Israel and his position on Hamas.

DeFoe attended the Nation of Islam’s 2017 Savior’s Day Convention in Detroit and later hosted NOI figure Troy Muhammad on her talk show, praising him as a community leader. A campaign filing does not specify her role, though she said she helped bring Black elected officials who endorsed El-Sayed’s primary rival Haley Stevens to meet him. The article says DeFoe had previously worked for Michigan Democrats including Senator Elissa Slotkin and Representative Stevens.