Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed refused to say whether Israel or Iran poses a greater threat to the United States during Thursday night's general election debate in Grand Rapids, calling the question a "ridiculous hypothetical" while defending his opposition to American involvement in the conflict with Tehran.
Moderator Rick Albin pressed El-Sayed repeatedly to identify which country he considered more dangerous. According to the Washington Examiner, El-Sayed instead pivoted to domestic priorities, arguing that taxpayer dollars should go toward education, healthcare, and other needs at home.
"I don't consider an ally a country that takes us to wars we don't need to fight," El-Sayed said, per Deadline Detroit. "I just think that makes both of them kind of dangerous. I think both of them have proven dangerous in their own way. One at risk of attacking us, one getting us into wars we have no business fighting."
The refusal to name Iran — a state sponsor of terrorism whose proxies have targeted U.S. forces for decades — as the greater threat drew sharp reactions. On Fox News' "On Balance," host Leland Vittert posed the same question to the candidate, referencing a claim made by one of El-Sayed's own supporters, according to the outlet.
A Debate Defined by Clashes
Thursday's debate between El-Sayed and Republican nominee Mike Rogers was caustic from the opening question, per the Washington Examiner, with the candidates trading personal insults and clashing over surveillance technology, immigration enforcement, healthcare, gas prices, and U.S. policy in the Middle East. The Examiner described the event as producing no policy agreements.
On Israel, El-Sayed went further than dodging the threat question. Deadline Detroit reported that he said he opposed any aid to Israel for defensive purposes — a position that some Jewish viewers described as disturbing.
"I've been absolutely clear. I want our tax dollars spent here to provide schools here and by here I mean Michigan not Florida," El-Sayed said during the debate. "You asked the hypothetical question about being attacked by Iran. But let's be honest about what happened here. Israel has pushed us to go to war in Iran. Ask yourself, are we safer because of that war?"
Jewish Voters React
Deadline Detroit reported that one Jewish Democratic voter in Oakland County who had already cast an absentee ballot for El-Sayed said he was so bothered by the candidate's anti-Israel answers that he was considering spoiling his ballot and getting a new one. He said he would simply not vote in that race.
"I had a feeling I haven't often felt in my life, a feeling of out and out hate, and the candidate not backing down an inch," the voter told Deadline Detroit of El-Sayed's responses. He added that he might ultimately not change his vote because giving Republicans the Senate majority "will ultimately do more damage with Trump. It's the lesser of two evils. That being said, it was very upsetting."
A second Jewish voter in Wayne County told Deadline Detroit he found El-Sayed's responses unsettling and noted his absentee ballot was sitting on a table, still unfilled. He said that while bothered by the remarks, he was likely to vote a straight Democratic ticket.
The episode comes as the Trump administration has pursued a hard line against Tehran and stood firmly with Israel, while Republicans nationally have sought to make Middle East policy a wedge issue in Democratic primaries and general elections. Michigan's open Senate seat is among the most closely watched contests in the country.
El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to questions about whether he stands by his characterization of Israel as partially responsible for U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict.
Our Take
Here's the thing about "ridiculous hypotheticals": grown-ups who want a Senate seat don't get to hide behind them. Rick Albin asked a yes-or-no question. Abdul El-Sayed answered with a both-sides shrug — and in doing so, he told Michigan voters exactly where he stands.
Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Its proxies have killed American troops.
This is what the modern Left has become. They can't condemn the mullahs because the base won't let them, so they split the difference and call our allies dangerous. And when Jewish Democrats in his own state — people who already voted for him — say they felt "out and out hate" coming off that stage, that tells you everything about the coalition El-Sayed is building.
Mike Rogers should put this clip in a statewide ad and run it until November. Michigan voters deserve to know whether their next senator believes Israel and Iran are moral equivalents. Abdul El-Sayed just answered that question — whether he meant to or not.
