Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic US Senate candidate in Michigan, has countered Republican Vice-President JD Vance's recent remarks, asserting that it is "evil" to deprive individuals of healthcare and affordable groceries. Vance, during a speech on Monday, characterised El-Sayed as embodying "terrible evil" and fighting for "one group at the expense of others."
El-Sayed, who could become the first Muslim US senator if elected in November, accused Vance of using a "dog whistle" in reference to Islamophobic attacks he has faced. Vance did not directly mention El-Sayed's religion but warned that "There’s something about Abdul El-Sayed that is very, very evil. And on the rise in the United States of America today."
In response, El-Sayed stated that "Evil is ripping healthcare away from working people in exchange for tax breaks for billionaires. Evil is making people pay more for groceries and gas while pushing for trade wars and actual war. Evil is dividing people for your own gain. Evil is selling out your morals for a little bit of power."
The escalating exchanges come as Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate nominee, aims to attract moderate Democrats and Jewish Americans following a primary where El-Sayed narrowly defeated Haley Stevens.