Report: Far-Right Campaign Targets Abdul El-Sayed After Michigan Senate Primary Victory

Report: Far-Right Campaign Targets Abdul El-Sayed After Michigan Senate Primary Victory
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A report by Al Jazeera has examined an online campaign targeting Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed following his victory in Michigan’s primary election, with critics accusing far-right activists of using anti-Muslim rhetoric and misinformation to attack his candidacy.

The campaign focused heavily on the Arabic phrase “inshallah” (“God willing”), which El-Sayed used during his victory speech while discussing his belief that elections should not be determined only by money and political influence. The phrase was taken out of context by several right-wing accounts and portrayed as a sign of a religious or ideological threat.

According to the report, prominent far-right influencers shared clips of El-Sayed’s speech, generating hundreds of thousands of views and framing him as a “Muslim socialist” candidate. An analysis of activity on X identified nearly 2,000 accounts and thousands of interactions within the first 24 hours, suggesting that the narrative spread through coordinated sharing among influential accounts.

The online attacks also included claims about Islamic law, immigration and Muslim communities in Michigan, particularly targeting Hamtramck, a city with a significant Arab Muslim population.

The controversy intensified after political figures and pro-Israel organisations joined the criticism, with some accusing El-Sayed of having problematic associations—claims that he and his supporters have rejected. President Donald Trump also criticised El-Sayed, accusing him of hostility toward Israel and Jewish people, allegations El-Sayed has denied.

El-Sayed has responded by focusing on policy issues, including healthcare, education, jobs and equality, while rejecting identity-based attacks. He has also stressed his commitment to protecting all communities, including Jewish Americans.