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.
In short
- El-Sayed’s campaign paid strategist Terra DeFoe more than $8,000.
- DeFoe had publicly appeared with Louis Farrakhan in 2017.
- The payments have intensified scrutiny of El-Sayed’s campaign ties.
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The case for
A campaign can reasonably hire a strategist for relevant political experience and connections, while judging her work by her role and conduct rather than by a photograph or attendance at an event. DeFoe’s reported effort to connect El-Sayed with Black elected officials could serve a legitimate campaign purpose, and paying her does not by itself show that the candidate shares every view she has expressed or praised.
The case against
A Senate campaign can reasonably be expected to consider whether a paid strategist’s public praise of a figure associated with antisemitic remarks risks undermining trust, particularly when the candidate is already facing scrutiny over Israel and Hamas. Even without evidence that El-Sayed shares DeFoe’s views, critics may argue that paying her signals poor judgement and gives voters grounds to question how the campaign addresses antisemitism.
Explained simply
Abdul El-Sayed is a Democrat running for the US Senate in Michigan. The party’s voters choose their candidate in a primary before the winner faces other parties’ candidates in the general election.
The Nation of Islam is a religious and political movement founded in the United States. Its leader, Louis Farrakhan, has made antisemitic remarks. Campaign disclosures are records of money paid by candidates and their campaigns, but they do not always describe the work done.
El-Sayed has faced scrutiny over his comments on Israel and his position on Hamas. The issue matters in a competitive Senate race, where candidates’ views and the people they hire can affect how voters assess them.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed ties to antisemite’s sympathizer: Revealing paper trail and new photo expose depth of alliance”.