{
  "id": 17741861,
  "title": "Abdul El-Sayed's Appeal to Michiganders After Haley Stevens' Sudden Switch",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/abdul-el-sayeds-appeal-to-michiganders-after-haley-stevens-sudden",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-02T04:04:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/abdul-el-sayed-appeal-michiganders-haley-stevens-sudden-switch-12647754"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed reassured Detroit residents on Sunday night that he understood their reservations about him due to his appearance, emphasizing that he wanted to be judged based on his character. Speaking with MS NOW in the hours following former Democratic rival Haley Stevens endorsing Republican Mike Rogers, El-Sayed insisted he had remained consistent in his message as he campaigns for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat. He acknowledged facing criticism, including attacks on his Muslim faith and portrayals of his political views as extremist. El-Sayed urged voters to judge him by his character, not the color of his skin, and expressed hope of bringing communities together in the Senate to build what cannot be achieved alone. Stevens, who currently represents Michigan's 13th congressional district in the House of Representatives, defended her endorsement of Rogers, stating it was not anti-Muslim, during a press conference outside a Detroit church. The state has one of the largest Muslim populations in the U.S., with around 241,828 adherents, primarily concentrated in Wayne County and the metro Detroit area. The 2024 election saw a significant shift, with Trump winning in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, while former Vice President Kamala Harris secured victory in Hamtramck. Opposition to the Biden administration's support for Israel's war in Gaza contributed to the shift away from Democrats among Muslim voters.",
  "summary": "The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate saw his polling take an 11-point lead over Republican Mike Rogers Sunday.",
  "key_points": [
    "El-Sayed reassured Detroit residents of his character-focused campaign.",
    "Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers, citing non-religious reasons.",
    "Michigan has largest Muslim population in U.S. with 241,828 adherents."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}