Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed apologized Saturday for remarks he made in March regarding an attack on a synagogue near Detroit, amid ongoing scrutiny of his comments and political affiliations. El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the open Senate seat, addressed members of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus at the state party’s convention in Lansing.
In his apology, El-Sayed acknowledged that his earlier statement may have been misunderstood as justifying the attacker’s actions, which was not his intent. “To anyone who feels like my comments might have been hurtful, I’m really sorry,” he said. He added that his initial remarks were an effort to provide context for the violence but conceded that it was “not the time for context” and emphasized the importance of respecting the pain of those affected.
The incident in question occurred in March when a man drove a truck into Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, igniting a fire and injuring a security guard. The assailant, Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Lebanon, reportedly carried out the attack in response to the loss of family members in a recent Israeli airstrike. Ghazali died by suicide at the scene.
El-Sayed originally condemned the attack and referenced his background as an epidemiologist, noting that “hurt people hurt people” and characterizing violence as a cyclical phenomenon. His comments sparked controversy, particularly within the Jewish community and among political observers.
The Michigan Senate race, which pits El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers, is considered a key contest in the battle for control of the Senate ahead of the November midterm elections. El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination after a closely contested primary against Haley Stevens, a candidate backed by prominent party leaders including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. During the primary, El-Sayed’s critical stance on Israel became a significant point of debate.
El-Sayed’s apology follows weeks of criticism over his association with Hasan Piker, a controversial online streamer who has made provocative comments about Israel and Jewish Americans. Piker’s August 20 Twitch livestream warned that support for Israel could fuel violence against Jewish Americans, comments which have drawn fierce backlash. El-Sayed distanced himself from Piker’s views in a statement, asserting that “nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople.”
When asked about Piker on Saturday, El-Sayed dismissed the focus on the streamer, emphasizing his campaign’s focus on local issues such as economic affordability and criticizing former President Donald Trump’s policies in Michigan. “If you want to make this race about a streamer in California, I just think you’re missing the boat,” El-Sayed stated.
The Michigan Senate race remains closely watched as both candidates vie for support in a battleground state with significant implications for national politics.