Michigan Democratic Senate contender Abdul El-Sayed on Monday stood by a harsh comment he made about Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) during the final debate ahead of next week’s primary.
El-Sayed, who has made sharp criticism of Israel a central point in his primary contest against Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich), was pressed over remarks from a Zoom meeting in which he called Fetterman — a vocal backer of the Jewish state — an “ogre” he wanted to see put “on a pike.”
Fox 2 Detroit moderator Roop Raj noted that the remark had angered many viewers and critics, saying it raised broader concerns about “the tone and tenor” El-Sayed has been accused of bringing to the campaign.
Raj then asked El-Sayed directly whether he regretted any of his comments, offering the former public health official an opening to walk back the attack.
Instead, El-Sayed reinforced his criticism of the Pennsylvania senator.
“I was referring to a guy named John Fetterman, who’s a senator from Pennsylvania who has done terrible things,” El-Sayed said.
“He got elected on a set of values and is now completely throwing those values in the mud,” the Democratic Senate hopeful added.
El-Sayed argued that Michigan’s next senator must be willing to work with colleagues in Washington while also holding them accountable, saying that if senators fail to live up to the principles they campaigned on, “it’s important for all of us to have an honest opinion” about how to ensure the Senate reflects the people it represents.
During the Zoom call with Democratic donors, audio of which was obtained by Politico, El-Sayed argued that Fetterman should face a primary challenge in 2028 and, if successful, it would serve as a warning to Democrats who don’t tow the party line.
“Primarying people like John Fetterman, I have no problem to do that,” he said on the call. “Ideally you put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message, and all of a sudden starts to sound a lot different.”
Fetterman, who is 6 feet 8 inches tall and has often been mocked over his physical appearance, responded by telling the outlet: “I pick being Senator Shrek over being the Pontiac Platner any day.”
Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary election will be held on August 4.
