Senator Tim Scott, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has launched a sharp attack on Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Dr Abdul El-Sayed, accusing him of sympathising with Hamas and embracing socialism as Republicans seek to frame him as a far-left extremist. The attack comes after El-Sayed narrowly won the Democratic primary against the more moderate Rep Haley Stevens, a result Republicans believe strengthens their chances of flipping the open Michigan Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Gary Peters.

Scott is backing former Rep Mike Rogers, the GOP's 2024 nominee who has Donald Trump's endorsement, arguing Rogers is better funded and organised than in his previous, narrower defeat to Senator Elissa Slotkin. Republicans are also highlighting El-Sayed's past remarks and his association with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker to reinforce their extremism claims, while Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have moved to unite the party behind El-Sayed following his bruising primary win over Stevens and Mallory McMorrow, pledging to help him win the seat in November.