Abdul El-Sayed
ON THE RECORD · 88 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“What are you implying? Do you assume that I wouldn’t?”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
El-Sayed responded to a man who asked if he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood, sparking a viral exchange.
“hurt people hurt people.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-18
Vance criticized El-Sayed's remark in response to a synagogue attack in Michigan.
“a light unto the world,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-18
During his Senate campaign, El-Sayed described Judaism as a light unto the world and expressed gratitude for the Jewish community.
“My commitment to Jewish safety is equivalent to the commitment to the safety of my own daughters,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-18
El-Sayed expressed his commitment to Jewish safety as equivalent to the safety of his own daughters.
“Basically, it's exactly the point. She did nothing wrong and was captured on that and then sued and got off,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-17 · reported 2026-10-17
El-Sayed acknowledged that his sister-in-law was involved in federal terrorist watchlist litigation, blaming Republican rival Mike Rogers.
“it was the rock we chose over the hard place.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2012-01-01 · reported 2026-10-16
In a 2012 opinion column, El-Sayed described Obama's reelection as no victory, writing it was the rock we chose over the hard place.
“My name is not the reason your gas prices are through the roof. My name is not the reason you can’t afford your groceries.”
Abdul el-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Abdul el-Sayed said this at a recent campaign event, deflecting criticism by pointing to gas and grocery prices.
“They say I can’t win because of my name,”
Abdul el-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Abdul el-Sayed said this at a recent campaign event while addressing perceptions about his candidacy.
“Donald Trump has already threatened to do what he did in 2020, which is deny the outcomes of an election,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed said on Meet the Press that Trump has threatened to deny the outcomes of an election as he did in 2020.
“So, yes, we have to win by massive numbers.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed confirmed on Meet the Press that Democrats need to turn out in massive numbers to counter expected election denial.
“Look, this is one seat in Michigan that has a lot more to do with our local issues in Michigan than it has to do with a national referendum,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed responded to a question about whether his race was a national referendum on progressives.
“I think Michigan is ready for a Muslim senator.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed deflected a question about America being ready for a Muslim president by redirecting to Michigan.
“That's not a question I'm asking,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed responded to host Kristen Welker's question about whether America was ready to elect a Muslim president.
“I have no intention of ever running for president. That is not a thing I've ever wanted to do,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed stated he has no intention of running for president during his Meet the Press interview.
“The guy … I’m running against insinuates that he didn’t actually lose,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed told Kristen Welker on Meet the Press that his opponent Mike Rogers insinuates he did not actually lose his 2024 Senate race.
“That’s the guy I’m running against right now.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed described his opponent Mike Rogers to Kristen Welker as someone who insinuates he did not actually lose his 2024 Senate race.
“I want to be a really great senator for my state. You know, someday, somewhere, somebody down the line decides to run, that would have been a really amazing thing to see how big America really is. But for right now, I really want to be the next senator from Michigan. That's what I’d like to be for a long time to come. I'm looking forward to serving out the next six years. I'm honored to get to do this. And look, America is a big place, and America has this incredible way of reminding us how big she really is. And that starts in Michigan.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed elaborated on his desire to serve as a senator for Michigan rather than pursue the presidency.
“It's truly shameful, but he has no ideas, he doesn't actually care about solving problems,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed criticized his GOP opponent Mike Rogers after Rogers alleged ties between El-Sayed and the Muslim Brotherhood.
“win by massive numbers”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
El-Sayed warned on NBC's Meet the Press that Democrats must win by large margins because Trump and Republican allies will try to sow doubt about election integrity.
“sock puppet for the Trump administration.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-09
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed called his opponent weak, cowardly, and a sock puppet for the Trump administration during the Michigan Senate debate.
“didn't turn it into political theater like you just did.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-09
El-Sayed said he has condemned the Oct. 7 attack but didn't turn it into political theater like Rogers did.
“if families want to keep their private health insurance, that's fine by me,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-09
El-Sayed said if families want to keep their private health insurance, that's fine by me.
“It's not in Michigan, my guy.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-09
El-Sayed responded to Rogers' comment about Florida being in the United States by noting it's not in Michigan.
“both of them have proven dangerous in their own way.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-09
Asked whether Iran or Israel is a bigger threat, El-Sayed called it a ridiculous hypothetical and said both have proven dangerous in their own way.
“thinks there's a war for everything.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-09
El-Sayed cast Rogers as a hawk who thinks there's a war for everything.
“He's got a direct line to the president who's making sure the war does not end, and he's not using it,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-09
El-Sayed accused Rogers of having a direct line to the president but not using it to end the Iran conflict.
“Yes, but you don't have to do that by violating the whole Constitution.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-09
Asked whether an undocumented immigrant who committed a violent crime should be deported, El-Sayed answered yes but said it should not require violating the Constitution.
“We need to get the corporations out, and right now corporations are buying politicians at a record clip.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed detailed his push to reduce corporate influence in politics.
“In my primary and in the general election, the same corporations are funding politicians. And this is the problem,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed argued that the same corporations fund politicians on both sides of the aisle in his primary and general election.
“corporations shouldn’t buy politicians,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed argued that accepting support from wealthy individual donors is different from soliciting corporate money.
“You know what I don't do? I don't call corporations. I don't call AIPAC… Individuals who want to support a campaign, that's different.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed distinguished accepting support from individual donors from soliciting corporate money.
“I don't think they should be able to buy any of us. And that's exactly what I want to end. So, when I say money out of politics, I intend fully to get corporate money out politics.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed pledged to fully get corporate money out of politics.
“They won't, because I've been very, very clear that I am not interested in doing the bidding of corporations. I will not sit down with a corporate lobbyist,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed insisted that groups supporting his candidacy would not come back looking for votes in return.
“Here's the difference. When you take their money and then you're ... in a position to govern on their issues, [and] guess what happens? You turn a blind eye. You vote 19 times to keep prescription drug prices high.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed argued that politicians who take corporate money turn a blind eye to constituent interests.
“When individuals want to give to my campaign, I welcome their support,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed defended his relationship with the Soros family when pressed by anchor Martha MacCallum.
“Both sides of the aisle funded by exactly the same corporation – that's what I wanna end.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed argued that the same corporations fund politicians on both sides of the aisle.
“There's a big difference there,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-10-05 · reported 2026-10-05
El-Sayed defended the difference between accepting individual donor support and corporate money during an interview on "The Story."
“that person simply into a carrying vehicle for a fetus”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-09-21 · reported 2026-09-23
El-Sayed further emphasized that removing abortion access turns a person into a carrying vehicle for a fetus.
“The question we have to ask ourselves is, what's the best way to do that? And whose life gets destroyed in that process?”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-09-21 · reported 2026-09-23
El-Sayed continued his response to a pro-life student at a Western Michigan University town hall.
“the currently existing life of the mother”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-09-21 · reported 2026-09-23
El-Sayed further emphasized the life of the mother when arguing against abortion restrictions.
“I respect your position insofar as it's founded in the idea that you want to protect and empower life,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-09-21 · reported 2026-09-23
El-Sayed responded to a pro-life student at a Students vs. Billionaires town hall at Western Michigan University.
“Because too often when government says that you cannot have reproductive care, you are creating a circumstance in which an adult, or sometimes even a juvenile human, is being reduced into simply a carrying vehicle for a fetus that has not ever breathed air,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-09-21 · reported 2026-09-23
El-Sayed argued that restricting reproductive care reduces a pregnant person to a carrying vehicle for a fetus.
“Considering all the dangers of the Republican nominee … it’s time for all of us to unite behind Kamala Harris to defeat Trump,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
After Biden dropped out of the 2024 election, El-Sayed called on the party to rally behind Harris.
“I’m grateful that she’s coming in and having conversations about what it takes to get the turnout up, so that we can get on to working on some of these issues in the U.S. Senate,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-09-16 · reported 2026-09-17
El-Sayed continued discussing Harris's upcoming visit to Michigan for a roundtable event.
“I’m just really looking forward to having her here, and she is somebody who so many folks in communities like Detroit look up to as an inspirational leader,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-09-16 · reported 2026-09-17
El-Sayed spoke to Politico about Harris joining him at an upcoming Black maternal health roundtable in Michigan.
“hurt people hurt people”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-13
El-Sayed said hurt people hurt people in response to a March attack on a suburban Detroit synagogue, noting relatives of the attacker in Lebanon had recently been killed in an Israeli airstrike.
“We can learn to disagree agreeably, and when you hear that kind of call to violence, it should be shuddering to all of us,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-12
El-Sayed added this while discussing the normalization of violent rhetoric in politics on CNN's The Source With Kaitlan Collins.
“But I want to be crystal clear, nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokesperson,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-12
El-Sayed said this after Piker called Israel a "Jewish ISIS," clarifying who speaks for his campaign.
“The President’s visit to Israel as it plans a major escalation & invasion of Gaza is already being held up as an endorsement of the violence being unleashed on innocent Palestinians. I can’t help but hear echoes of 9/11. When do we learn that more violence doesn’t fix violence?”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-12
El-Sayed wrote this as Israel prepared to strike Gaza in October 2023, drawing parallels between that violence and 9/11.
“Look, I’m a dad with two daughters, and I hope those daughters get to grow up and live with their dad. This is what has become the norm in our politics … literally calls to violence and the inability for anybody to actually call it out,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-12
El-Sayed said this on CNN's The Source With Kaitlan Collins when asked about audience members calling for him to be shot during Cruz's convention speech.
“And while politicians and pundits try to make this race about a Twitch streamer, we’re going to be talking about gas, groceries, good schools and healthcare. Because that’s what Michiganders keep asking about.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-12
El-Sayed said his campaign would focus on kitchen-table issues rather than his association with a Twitch streamer.
“They didn’t just attack America that day they attacked the idea of America,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-09-11 · reported 2026-09-12
El-Sayed posted this as part of his 9/11 message on his X account, sparking social media backlash.
“Today on 9/11 we remember the lives that were taken from us in a terrible act of terrorism.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-09-11 · reported 2026-09-12
El-Sayed continued his 9/11 remembrance message posted on social media.
“I’m not a socialist.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-05
El-Sayed distanced himself from the socialist label during a CBS News interview.
“I’d rather think of myself as a capitalist who has actually read about capitalism,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-05
El-Sayed made the remark in a CBS News interview days before winning the Michigan Democratic Senate primary.
“What I'm saying is there are three million people who listen to Hasan,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03
El-Sayed explained to Smith why he has resisted pressure to disavow Piker, who has supported him and appeared alongside him during the campaign.
“I want to offer them a pathway into an electoral movement where, rather than sit outside of the electoral system, they see a pathway around the things that they agree with that he says that I agree with, and a pathway that disavows the things that I disagree with. And so it's important.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03
El-Sayed described his strategy of offering Piker's audience a pathway into electoral politics while disavowing things he disagrees with.
“hurt people hurt people,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30
Abdul El-Sayed commented in a video response following an attack on Temple Israel synagogue in March.
“To anyone who feels like my comments might have been hurtful, I’m really sorry. That was not my intention.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-29 · reported 2026-08-30
Abdul El-Sayed apologized to reporters for his previous comments about an attack on a synagogue.
“My comments may have been misconstrued to justify something I did not mean to justify,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-29 · reported 2026-08-30
Abdul El-Sayed spoke to reporters after apologizing to the Jewish Democratic Caucus for comments he made about a synagogue attack.
“What I was trying to do was offer context for why it happened, but it wasn’t the time for context,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-29 · reported 2026-08-30
Abdul El-Sayed reflected on his earlier response to the synagogue attack.
“And you don’t ever want to trample somebody’s pain.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-29 · reported 2026-08-30
Abdul El-Sayed reflected on his earlier response to the synagogue attack.
“I watched terrorists with names like mine attack my country in the name of my faith. Three thousand of my fellow Americans were killed in the craven terrorist attacks in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. The attack devastated me.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-29
El-Sayed wrote this in a 2021 recollection of the September 11 attacks.
“Natalie, I think he’s had a little too much iPad for the week. He needs his rest,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-22 · reported 2026-08-23
Abdul El-Sayed posted a message directed at Trump aide Natalie Harp after Donald Trump criticized him.
“So do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no…”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-22 · reported 2026-08-23
Abdul El-Sayed posted a comment on social media questioning whether JD Vance would introduce Usha Vance to his grandfather.
“I stand in solidarity with my Jewish sisters and brothers, and we can condemn antisemitism. And, at the same time, we can be talking about how we bring people together, and we can be talking about everybody's pain.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-22
Abdul El-Sayed spoke on unity and confronting antisemitism following his primary victory.
“in solidarity with my Jewish sisters and brothers”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-22
Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed affirmed his stance against antisemitism.
“The same exact forces that drove Native peoples from their land two centuries ago, destroyed Black Wall Street a century ago, bombed a building decades ago, and tried to ban Sharia law not a decade ago, those forces are alive and well today,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Abdul El-Sayed spoke at a CAIR banquet criticizing efforts to ban Sharia law.
“You can’t understand the efforts to uproot Muslim Americans without understanding the Tulsa massacre. You cannot understand the challenges we face today without understanding white supremacy.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Abdul El-Sayed linked efforts against Muslim Americans to historical white supremacy.
“The reason I wanted to go all the way back to the 1830s is because you can’t understand a Shariah ban without understanding the Trail of Tears,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Abdul El-Sayed explained why he referenced historical events during his 2022 banquet speech.
“Of course it was a dumb statement and, of course, I think Hasan himself would say that was a dumb statement,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Abdul El-Sayed responded to past controversial remarks made by Hasan Piker about 9/11.
“He disavowed it. So yes, America didn’t deserve 9/11.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Abdul El-Sayed stated his position on Hasan Piker's past remarks regarding 9/11.
“We’re in a situation right now where the rich keep getting hyper-rich on the backs of figuring out how to monetize everyday people,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
El-Sayed made this comment to the Associated Press while campaigning against corporate money in politics.
“My commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own kids. We have a responsibility to take on antisemitism in all of its forms, wherever we see it.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-06 · reported 2026-08-20
El-Sayed emphasizing his commitment to Jewish safety after winning the Democratic primary, amid criticism over his past comments on Israel.
“It was a dumb statement,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
El-Sayed was asked on NBC's 'Meet the Press' about Hasan Piker's '9/11' remark before the primary.
“I’ll be happy to give you lessons”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-05 · reported 2026-08-05
El-Sayed condemned GOP messaging tactics using his name after winning the Democratic Senate primary.
“They understand that the only way that they think they can win is to drag us into the mud, to believe the worst about each other, to believe that what divides us is bigger than what unites us,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-05 · reported 2026-08-05
El-Sayed condemned GOP messaging tactics, saying Democrats would remain focused on issues.
“we cannot wait to come together and win in November.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-05 · reported 2026-08-05
El-Sayed referred to his former rivals Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow after his projected victory.
“I want you to know that my commitment to your safety, my commitment to Jewish safety, is the same commitment that I have to the safety of my own daughters,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-05 · reported 2026-08-05
El-Sayed sought to reassure Jewish Americans of his commitment to their safety after winning the primary.
“when you’ve got 500,000 more voters who came out to be a part of a process to pick a nominee, that means that their voices have been heard.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-05 · reported 2026-08-05
El-Sayed hailed record-breaking turnout in the Senate primary with 99% of the vote counted.
“we’ve had some great conversations about where we go from here, and we cannot wait to come together and win in November.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-08-05 · reported 2026-08-05
El-Sayed noted conversations with former rivals Stevens and McMorrow about coming together for November.
“If you think you can beat money out of politics, money in your pocket, Medicare for all, come.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-01
El-Sayed challenged AIPAC directly in a recent interview, daring the organization to try to beat his campaign platform.
“You picked the least capable candidate in America,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-01
El-Sayed addressed AIPAC directly in a recent interview, referring to Stevens as the least capable candidate in America.
“I was referring to a guy named John Fetterman, who’s a senator from Pennsylvania, who has done terrible things, got elected on a set of values, and is now completely throwing those values in the mud,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-07-28 · reported 2026-07-28
El-Sayed clarified during the debate that his ogre comment referred to Sen. John Fetterman, not Stevens.
“Ideally you put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said date not stated · reported 2026-07-28
El-Sayed told donors on a Zoom call that if elected he would back a primary challenge to Sen. John Fetterman in 2028.
“I welcome her supporters to our movement to stand up against money in politics, to put money back in pockets, and pass Medicare for All.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-07-05 · reported 2026-07-05
El-Sayed wrote on X welcoming McMorrow's supporters to his movement.
“The same party insiders she had the courage to challenge have been bullying anyone who opposes their chosen candidate,”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-07-05 · reported 2026-07-05
El-Sayed wrote on X, thanking McMorrow and criticizing party insiders.
“We cannot allow the establishment to decide our nominee for us.”
Abdul El-Sayed · said 2026-07-05 · reported 2026-07-05
El-Sayed wrote on X, arguing against the establishment deciding the nominee.