Chadi Abdulrazek, an Arab American political activist who has been volunteering to help elect Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, says he’s spoken in recent days to journalists from Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom.
asserted
he → volunteer → Denmark
The United States Senate race between El-Sayed and his Republican rival Mike Rogers is attracting national and international attention, reflecting the potent political symbolism that belies its outcome, which extends far beyond one seat in the upper chamber of Congress.
asserted
which → attract → Congress
Supporters in each camp paint the contest as a crucial fight that could shape the political direction of the state and the nation for years.
uncertain
that → paint → years
Abdulrazek, a small business owner, said the election is a chance to hold Trump accountable for breaking his promises to pursue peace in the world and focus on the needs of Americans.
asserted
Trump → say → Americans
For Arab and Muslim communities that have been facing Islamophobic attacks as part of the Senate race, the vote is pivotal, he added.
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he → face → race
“What’s on the line is they have to stand up for themselves and say, ‘We are part of this country, and we’re going to be voting, and we will actually make a change’,” Abdulrazek told Al Jazeera.
asserted
Abdulrazek → ’ → Jazeera
Here, Al Jazeera looks at the US Senate race in Michigan and why it has gained so much attention.
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it → look → attention
El-Sayed is a public health advocate who previously led the health department in Detroit and Wayne County in southeast Michigan.
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who → lead → Michigan
If elected, the Democrat of Egyptian descent would become the first-ever Muslim US senator.
asserted
Democrat → elect → descent
El-Sayed ran for governor in 2018 but fell short in the Democratic primary against eventual winner Gretchen Whitmer.
asserted
Sayed → run → Whitmer
The Democratic nominee has embraced progressive policies, especially Medicare for All – a plan to expand government-funded healthcare to everyone in the US.
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nominee → embrace → US
The Republican nominee ran for the Senate in 2024 and narrowly lost to centrist Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin.
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nominee → run → Slotkin
He is a close ally of Donald Trump, but has sought to create some distance between his campaign and the unpopular president.
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He → seek → campaign
For example, Rogers has supported Trump’s decision to join Israel in launching the war against Iran, while also calling for an end to the conflict.
asserted
Rogers → support → conflict
The Republican candidate also backs tax cuts, increasing domestic energy production and deregulation.
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candidate → back → production
It will be difficult for Democrats to gain control of the Senate if they lose Michigan.
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they → gain → Michigan
The seat is currently held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters.
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seat → hold → Peters
A Rogers win would hand the swing state Senate seat to Republicans for at least six years.
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win → hand → years
It is a test of the electoral viability of progressive ideas, including sharp criticism of Israel, in a swing state.
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It → include → state
While the Senate has many progressive members, most come from coastal states considered Democratic strongholds.
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most → have → states
A victory for El-Sayed in Michigan would show that his message can attract a winning coalition, which could influence how Democratic presidential candidates may go about their campaigning in 2028.
uncertain
candidates → show → 2028
There is also the factor of El-Sayed’s Muslim faith, which had become the subject of near daily attacks by Rogers and Trump.
asserted
which → be → Rogers
The race has raised questions about whether Michigan and the US are ready for a Muslim senator.
asserted
Michigan → raise → senator
Why has Israel become a major issue in the race?
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Israel → become → race
El-Sayed has accused Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza, echoing the findings of major human rights organisations and United Nations investigators.
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Sayed → accuse → organisations
The Democrat has also linked wars, including the conflict in Iran and US aid to Israel, to domestic issues.
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Democrat → link → issues
He says that US taxpayer money is better spent on addressing issues at home, such as healthcare and crumbling infrastructure.
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money → say → healthcare
Pro-Israel groups, namely the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), have spent tens of millions of dollars to help defeat El-Sayed.
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groups → spend → Sayed
AIPAC backed El-Sayed’s opponent Haley Stevens with more than $30m, making Israel policy one of the most discussed subjects in the election.
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policy → back → election
El-Sayed overcame the spending onslaught in the primaries, but Rogers – a staunch Israel supporter – has seized on the criticism of El-Sayed from pro-Israel advocates, including some Democrats.
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Rogers → overcome → Democrats
Rogers – who has pledged unconditional support for Israel – has accused El-Sayed of caring more for Palestine than Michigan.
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who → pledge → Michigan
After a lull in spending in Michigan, AIPAC has returned to the race to back Rogers.
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AIPAC → spend → Rogers
The pro-Israel lobby group’s election arm, United Democracy Project, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on mailers against El-Sayed.
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arm → spend → Sayed
According to The New York Times, it has funnelled $9m to a Republican group supporting Rogers.
uncertain
it → accord → Rogers
It is uncommon for the candidate who lost a primary to be part of a major storyline in the general election, but Stevens has been making headlines days ahead of the vote after her fiance endorsed Rogers, citing El-Sayed’s criticism of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
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fiance → lose → Gaza
Stevens, a Democrat in the US House of Representatives, has also criticised El-Sayed for his positions on Israel while saying she would still vote for the Democratic candidate.
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she → criticise → candidate
The congresswoman’s repeated media appearances bashing El-Sayed have earned the scorn of some Democrats.
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appearances → repeat → Democrats
On Friday, El-Sayed and several Democratic-aligned groups and politicians responded to Stevens, saying that the party must focus on winning the Senate seat.
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party → align → seat
El-Sayed said in a statement that while “defeating Trump’s hand-picked candidate” should be the priority, “Stevens seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago.”
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that → say → primary
What are the voters saying?
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voters → say → What
…and 25 more, not listed.
The Aporia
