Senator Bernie Sanders publicly defended Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, dismissing intraparty divisions and condemning aggressive Republican attacks against the candidate just days before the midterm election.
Speaking on CBS’s *Face the Nation*, Sanders addressed the ongoing friction between El-Sayed and U.S. Representative Haley Stevens, who narrowly lost to El-Sayed in the Democratic primary. Stevens has expressed reservations about endorsing him, citing his positions on Israel and certain campaign advertisements.
Sanders acknowledged that Stevens remained disappointed following the close primary contest, but emphasized that Michigan voters are focused on the broader stakes of the general election against Republican nominee Mike Rogers.
“Sure, we have disagreements with Abdul on this or that issue, but from what I can see, all over the state people are standing up,” Sanders said. “They’re going to stand with Abdul, take on somebody who will be nothing more than a rubber stamp for the Trump administration.”
El-Sayed, a physician who would become the first Muslim senator in the nation’s history if elected, has faced accusations from prominent Republicans alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood , claims he has consistently and firmly rejected.
During the broadcast, CBS aired footage of Republican figures criticizing El-Sayed. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas cautioned against granting him access to classified intelligence, stating, “there is a very real risk that Americans will die as a result.” Former President Donald Trump declared that Michigan “does not need a senator who’s on the side of the terrorists,” while Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno questioned El-Sayed’s religious beliefs.
Sanders characterized these remarks and the accompanying campaign advertisements as “disgusting, racist, fearmongering,” noting that El-Sayed had been falsely characterized as a terrorist and a jihadist.
“I don’t care if you disagree with Abdul , he believes in Medicare for all, he believes in taxing billionaires. Fine, you disagree with him on that, that’s fine,” Sanders said. “But that level of racism, overt, absolute racism, is frankly disgusting and should appall every decent American.”
When host Margaret Brennan asked how he responds to voters who interpret criticism of U.S. aid to Israel as anti-Jewish sentiment, Sanders firmly rejected the premise that opposing the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu constitutes antisemitism.
“I am Jewish. My father’s family was wiped out by Hitler,” Sanders said. “Anti-Semitism is an extraordinarily disgusting and dangerous ideology that has killed millions and millions of lives in the last century. We cannot tolerate anti-Semitism period.”
Sanders further argued that criticizing a foreign government’s leadership does not reflect hostility toward any religion or people.
“To be critical of a racist extremist government in Israel, and to say that American taxpayers should not spend a nickel supporting that government is not anti-Semitism; it is attacking a right-wing government,” Sanders said. “You can criticize Netanyahu, and you’re not anti-Semitic.”
El-Sayed faces Rogers on Tuesday in a race that carries significant implications for the balance of power in the United States Senate.
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