Abdul El‑Sayed faces paid opposition and Islamophobia in Michigan Senate race

politicsOct 24, 202638135

At a Flint town hall Abdul El-Sayed was confronted by Thomas Teepell, who asked him to "disavow" the Muslim Brotherhood; El-Sayed answered "Sure, yeah, absolutely" and then explained constitutional religious freedom. Reporting by The Guardian and Mother Jones links the confrontation to paid opposition: America Next, a 501(c)(4) started by Bobby Jindal, gave Timmy Teepell’s firm Breakthrough LLC $250,000 last month for "canvassing and influencer marketing" opposing El-Sayed, America Next’s only reported expenditure since 2015. The Michigan Daily reviewed College Republicans GroupMe messages showing students were offered $200 each to attend El-Sayed’s October 3 town hall to boo and ask provocative questions. FEC filings do not show that Thomas Teepell himself was paid by Breakthrough LLC or America Next. Polling compiled by The New York Times shows El-Sayed holding a slight lead over Republican Mike Rogers as the race continues. The reporting frames the town hall exchanges and student outreach as part of a coordinated effort to manufacture negative coverage about El-Sayed’s faith and loyalties.

Bob Geiger

@bobgeiger.bsky.social

Michigan Democratic senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on his opponent Mike Rogers: “We had a little debate. Or I had a debate and he just pointed at me and said, ‘He’s Muslim.’”

6512h ago

Dean (he/him)1

Trump called Abdul a Jihadist, but Trump started a war. Abdul went to medical school to learn to heal. Trump worked for his slumlord father, collecting rent and evicting poor families. So, who has benefited mankind? Abdul is Muslim and prays regularly, Trump pretends to be Christian but worships $

Jill Lawrence

@jilldlawrence.bsky.social

"Open racism and bigotry as a closing message." @chrismurphyct.bsky.social on Republicans, the midterms, and the Michigan Senate race.

3413h ago

Los Angeles Times

@latimes.com

Commentary: Muslims have always had to prove our Americanness. Enter Abdul El-Sayed

103h ago

Jack Jenkins

@jackjenkins.me

Via @yonat.bsky.social: Michigan’s US Senate race is pitting "Jews for whom Israel is a big part of their identity against other Jews for whom it isn’t." religionnews.com/2026/10/23/r...

812h ago

Ms. RG3

Gonna read the piece… but the look on Abdul’s face in this pic 😆

Kimberly1

This makes me crazy. If you actually look for the candidate who actually believes in religious freedom and speaks the values of most Jews, this election is a NO BRAINER. You drive around West Bloomfield and you know who has all the Mike Rogers signs? The people in the really big houses.

J.R.

@contactjr.bsky.social

Lolwut? What does Hakeem Jeffries have to do with the Michigan Senate race? How are you connecting criticism of Jeffries with “El Sayed supporters”? Please be serious.

77h ago

maryburns.bsky.social

@maryburns.bsky.social

Mike Rogers is showing his lack of character. Republicans have consistently acted nasty. #Pinks The Michigan Senate Race Keeps Getting Nastier www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/u...

29h ago

Angry Donkey News

@angrydonkeynews.bsky.social

Israel First Mike Rogers’ career is cooked after this Abdul El Sayed ad. This is brilliant. x.com/CubsWorld80/...

13h ago

Emma Jean Kitty

@emmajeankitty.bsky.social

‘Michigan First’: El-Sayed Courts GOP Voters In Ad Aired On Conservative Networks The Democratic Senate candidate argued that he and Republican voters agree on more than they disagree. www.huffpost.com/entry/abdul-...

110h ago

Shannon

@666wtf.bsky.social

Need to see more ads like this! :) Send El-Sayed a couple of bucks ~ help pay for this ad. :) abdulforsenate.com bsky.app/profile/abdu...

112h ago

LillianDCA

@lillianorlando.bsky.social

Mike Rogers is running for Senate in Michigan. Mike owns two yachts — and he wants to cut YOUR hard earned Social Security benefits. He lives in Florida.

5h ago

Stephen Fesler 🧦 🥑🚶‍♂️🚌 🚊 🚆 🇺🇸 🇮🇪 🇪🇺🇻🇦🕊️

@safesler.bsky.social

Vivek Ramaswamy is bad news, but honestly, Mike Rogers is a strong contender if not worse. He is a straight up racist and intolerably mean-spirited www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/u...

9h ago

4rosy.bsky.social

@4rosy.bsky.social

Michigan we need Abdul El-Sayed. Michigan get out vote Blue all the way. Abdul El-Sayed will make Michigan better. Abdul El-Sayed is for the people.

13h ago

ChrisMcS52

@cmcs52.bsky.social

Another excellent interview with Abdul El-Sayed - such an intelligent and polite gentleman calmly responding to Fox News "journalist".

13h ago

Drew Grimaldi

@grimaldi.tv

Obama and Trump both campaign in Michigan this weekend as the critical U.S. Senate race heats up. Obama is in Detroit Saturday, Trump in Port Huron Sunday. https://www.wxyz.com/news/obama-trump-to-campaign-in-michigan-this-weekend-as-critical-u-s-senate-race-heats-up

111h ago

godofindifference.bsky.social

@godofindifference.bsky.social

“Trump Calls Abdul El-Sayed A ‘Vicious, Violent Jihadist’” Calling someone a political radical invites voters to reject his ideas. Calling him a violent jihadist invites people to perceive him as a physical threat.

112h ago

2 sources

latimes.comCommentary: Muslims have always had to prove our Americanness. Enter Abdul El-Sayed motherjones.comAbdul El-Sayed keeps getting questioned by manufactured opposition

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Abdul El‑Sayed faces paid opposition and Islamophobia in Michigan Senate race

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