Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed clarified during a televised debate on Monday that his controversial 'ogre on a pike' comment was directed at Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, not his primary opponent Representative Haley Stevens. The remark, made in a leaked Zoom call, sparked backlash and accusations of sexism.
Debate exchange over 'ogre' comment
In the debate, moderator Roop Raj pressed El-Sayed on whether he regretted the comment, which was captured in audio published by Politico. El-Sayed said he was referring to Fetterman, who has shifted rightward since his election. 'I was referring to a guy named John Fetterman, a senator from Pennsylvania who has done terrible things, got elected on a set of values, and is now completely throwing those values in the mud,' El-Sayed said.
Stevens, who was present, quipped: 'Thank you for clarifying that you didn't call me an ogre.'
Fetterman feud and Israel policy
El-Sayed and Fetterman have clashed over Fetterman's strong support for Israel. Fetterman recently said he would consider leaving the Democratic Party if it became 'anti-Israel'. El-Sayed has called Israel's Gaza campaign a 'genocide' and opposes US arms support for Israel.
El-Sayed also defended his record on civility, noting he had urged supporters not to mock Stevens's accent. 'I took to Twitter last week and said that the tone in which people talk about my opponent is unkind,' he said.
Proxy fight for party's future
The expensive primary to replace retiring Senator Gary Peters has become a proxy battle between the establishment-backed moderate Stevens and progressive El-Sayed. Stevens, endorsed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, has accepted support from Aipac. El-Sayed, endorsed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, rallies the left flank.
When asked if he is a progressive or democratic socialist, El-Sayed replied: 'I'm not a socialist. I'm just a capitalist who understands how capitalism works. The biggest threat to capitalism was never government regulation. It was always monopoly.'
Stakes for Senate control
The race is crucial for Senate control. Donald Trump won Michigan in 2024, making it a key Republican target. Former congressman Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost the 2024 Senate race to Elissa Slotkin, is the Republican frontrunner. On Monday, Rogers appeared with Trump at a rally in Milford, Michigan, pledging to enact Trump's agenda if elected.
