Key facts
- Sen. Bernie Sanders claims some Democratic leaders and donors are not enthusiastic about Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed's prospects.
- Sanders suggested this reluctance is tied to El-Sayed's progressive platform and its challenge to wealthy interests and U.S. foreign policy regarding Israel.
- Democratic strategist Yemisi Egbewole pushed back, stating the party's priority is a Senate majority and El-Sayed must win over voters.
- RNC spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre called El-Sayed unfit for the Senate due to his record and associations.
- Sanders downplayed controversies surrounding El-Sayed's association with streamer Hasan Piker, attributing criticism to distractions from economic issues.
Senator Bernie Sanders has accused a segment of Democratic leaders and donors of being less than enthusiastic about Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed's prospects, suggesting their reluctance stems from El-Sayed's progressive platform and its challenge to established interests.
Sanders told Politico Playbook that these individuals, including those in the party's donor class, view candidates like El-Sayed as a threat to "oligarchy" and to American foreign policy, particularly concerning continued support for the Israeli government. He argued that these Democrats are less enthusiastic about El-Sayed's chances.
However, Democratic strategist Yemisi Egbewole pushed back against Sanders' framing, emphasizing the party's primary objective of securing a Senate majority and El-Sayed's responsibility to consolidate support after a narrow primary victory over Rep. Haley Stevens. Egbewole suggested that Sanders is overly focused on "oligarchy" business.
RNC national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre also rejected Sanders' defense, asserting that El-Sayed's record and associations make him unfit for the Senate and a national security threat.
The exchange occurs as El-Sayed attempts to move past renewed scrutiny over his past campaign appearances with streamer Hasan Piker. Piker has faced widespread condemnation for remarks about American Jews and Israel. Sanders, who backed El-Sayed in the primary, dismissed Piker's controversies as "dumb things that people should reject," arguing that Republicans and the media are using the issue to distract from economic concerns.
El-Sayed himself has largely resisted repeated questions about Piker, focusing instead on core campaign issues. Despite internal party divisions exposed during the primary, establishment Democrats have since rallied behind El-Sayed in a bid to win the closely watched Michigan Senate race.