Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
· collected 2026-08-04 · by Robert Schmad, Cameron Cawthorne
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has received an endorsement from Horace Sheffield III, a Detroit pastor and radio host who previously praised Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan. In 2013, Sheffield gave a speech introducing Farrakhan, calling him a "leader" and accusing outside forces of slandering him. Farrakhan is infamous for making anti-Semitic remarks, including comparing Jews to "termites". El-Sayed's campaign has worked closely with Sheffield, who stopped by the candidate's office in June to film a promotional video and was paid $75,000 for "consulting" fees between October 2025 and June of this year.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has received an endorsement from Horace Sheffield III, a influential Detroit pastor and radio host. What's notable is that Sheffield previously praised Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, in a speech where he accused outside forces of slandering him. In this 2013 speech, Sheffield described Farrakhan as a "leader" who could "organize" people. This praise from Sheffield is significant because Farrakhan has made several anti-Semitic comments, including accusing Jews of being "wicked deceivers" and sucking their blood. El-Sayed's campaign issued a press release to commemorate the endorsement, with El-Sayed saying he was "deeply honored" to have Sheffield's support.
Written for “Michigan Gubernatorial Candidate Endo…” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is enthusiastically touting the endorsement of Horace Sheffield III, an influential Detroit pastor and radio host who once heaped praise on Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan.
asserted
who → tout → Farrakhan
Sheffield endorsed El-Sayed on air in November 2025, with the Senate hopeful issuing a press release to commemorate the occasion and saying that he was "deeply honored" to have his support.
asserted
he → endorse → support
In May 2013, Sheffield gave a speech introducing Farrakhan to a gathering of religious leaders where he praised the controversial cleric for his leadership and accused outside forces of slandering him.
uncertain
he → give → him
"We need someone to give us direction.
asserted
We → need → direction
I believe we have a leader here that can organize us," Sheffield said, referring to Farrakhan, according to a media outlet founded by Farrakhan.
uncertain
Sheffield → believe → Farrakhan
Before Sheffield lauded the Nation of Islam leader, he had racked up an extensive record of controversial remarks slammed as anti-Semitic or as instances of anti-White racism.
asserted
he → laud → racism
In 1996, for instance, Farrakhan accused Jews of being "wicked deceivers of the American people" who have "sucked their blood."
asserted
who → accuse → blood
A year later, he suggested that "people will never be free in this country" until they are liberated from the "tremendous amount of influence" Jews exert over the American government.
uncertain
Jews → suggest → government
Shortly before Sheffield praised Farrakhan in May 2013, the Nation of Islam minister stated that "Jews are the most violent of people" in February 2012.
uncertain
Jews → praise → February
Farrakhan also called White people "the skunk of the planet earth" and suggested that Europeans are not yet fully evolved human beings.
uncertain
Europeans → call → earth
Following these controversial statements, Sheffield suggested during his 2013 introductory remarks that Farrakhan was a truth teller whom the establishment was trying to silence.
"They want to silence people who tell us the truth, and we know why this is happening and who is doing it, but we need some help with how to overcome it," Sheffield said during his speech.
uncertain
Sheffield → follow → speech
After the 2013 event, Farrakhan continued his habit of controversial remarks, calling Jews "termites" in 2018.
asserted
Farrakhan → continue → 2018
Despite Sheffield’s praise of a highly controversial cleric, El-Sayed’s campaign has worked with him to a considerable degree.
asserted
campaign → work → degree
In June, Sheffield stopped by El-Sayed’s campaign office to film a promotional video for the candidate.
asserted
Sheffield → stop → candidate
More recently, the Washington Free Beacon reported that the El-Sayed campaign had paid a nonprofit run by Sheffield $75,000 for "consulting" fees between October 2025 and June of this year.
asserted
campaign → report → year
Sheffield’s previous radio station suspended him in 2018 after he endorsed Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar’s failed bid for Michigan governor after accepting tens of thousands of dollars in "consulting" fees from him, according to the Free Beacon.
uncertain
he → suspend → Beacon
While Sheffield’s controversial past associations could provide Republicans with ammunition to use against El-Sayed in the general election, especially given the accusations of antisemitism surrounding his campaign, the pastor's endorsement could also help him win the support of Black Michiganders, a demographic he has so far failed to impress.
uncertain
he → provide → Michiganders
His lifelong commitment to justice, faith, and service embodies the very best of Detroit," El-Sayed said following the endorsement.
asserted
Sayed → embody → endorsement
"We’re building a coalition that believes politics should be about people, and together we’ll fight to deliver dignity, opportunity, and equity for every Michigander."
asserted
we → build → Michigander
Representatives for El-Sayed and Sheffield did not return requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.
asserted
Representatives → return → Monday
