Key facts
- Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and allies, including President Donald Trump, are linking Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood.
- Trump falsely branded El-Sayed a "jihadist."
- The strategy aims to dissuade Jewish and Black voters in Michigan.
- El-Sayed has disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood and denied any connection to the group.
- The race for the Michigan Senate seat is rated a toss-up.
Republican US Senate candidate Mike Rogers and allies, including President Donald Trump, are intensifying efforts to link Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, with Trump falsely branding him a "jihadist." The strategy, according to pollsters and strategists, aims to dissuade Jewish and Black voters in the Detroit area from supporting El-Sayed in the closing weeks before the November 3 midterms. Rogers has pointed to El-Sayed's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and alleged longstanding family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, while also seeking to exploit economic tensions between Black and Arab-American communities. El-Sayed has disavowed the group and denied any connection. The race for the seat held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters is considered a toss-up, with El-Sayed holding a narrow lead in opinion polls.