From Fox News · Robert Schmad · · 2m
Muslim voters back a candidate they disagree with
At a Detroit convention, Muslim voters told Fox News they reject Abdul El-Sayed's social positions and plan to vote for him regardless.
In brief
At a Detroit convention, Muslim voters told Fox News they reject Abdul El-Sayed's social positions and plan to vote for him regardless. Foreign policy and cost of living are outranking social issues for these voters, enough to move some 2024 Trump supporters to a progressive Democrat. Originally reported by Fox News.
A vote without agreement
Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee, has Muslim voters who oppose his stances on abortion and LGBTQ rights but say they will vote for him anyway.
A Democrat with a Muslim mask
One convention attendee, speaking anonymously to avoid social reprisals, compared El-Sayed to Rep. Ilhan Omar and said he still wants him elected for the representation.
“Basically he's like Ilhan Omar, but like a male version.”
Detroit, Labor Day weekend
Fox News Digital spoke with about 10 attendees at the Islamic Society of North America convention, where El-Sayed gave the marquee speech amid controversy over other speakers.
Where the positions clash
El-Sayed backs codifying Roe, funding Planned Parenthood, LGBTQ-inclusive sex education, and sex-change operations for children. Islamic theology generally reads abortion, gender and sexuality more restrictively.
A Trump voter switching sides
A Navy veteran said he votes Republican on values but feels abandoned after 2024, pointing to foreign wars and the cost of living as reasons he is backing El-Sayed.
“I voted for Donald Trump. When it comes to values, I'm a Republican. But unfortunately they have betrayed us.”
Follow the tax dollars
Longtime supporter Zubin said spending on foreign wars and other countries is the issue driving voters, and not only Muslim ones.
“A lot of these tax dollars are going to support foreign wars, support countries that aren't the United States.”
The math in November
Trump did unusually well with Michigan Arab Americans in 2024. A sharp drop there could hurt GOP Senate hopes, though Republicans are courting disaffected Jewish Democrats in return.
Many had no idea
Some attendees learned of El-Sayed's social positions only when asked about them, and one predicted his support would slip if those views were better known in the community.
“Wait, he's supporting LGBTQ? I don't really think that's good, especially because this is Islam and it prohibits LGBTQ.”
A generational split
Zubin said younger Muslims sit closer to El-Sayed on social questions than their parents and grandparents do, and called the resulting friction natural and likely to be debated.
“There may be a little bit of friction, but this is natural.”
Looking past the 5 to 10 percent
Fauzi framed the disagreements as a small share of the whole, arguing El-Sayed's impact on education and health care matters more for Michigan and the country.
“5-10% of the issues, people may differ. But we have to look at the big picture.”
The key point
Foreign policy and cost of living are outranking social issues for these voters, enough to move some 2024 Trump supporters to a progressive Democrat.
