Cruz brands El-Sayed a 'jihadist leprechaun' in Michigan Senate push
The Texas senator's latest remarks target Abdul El-Sayed's alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood as the election approaches.
By Nikolai Patterson ·
Senator Ted Cruz has labeled Democratic challenger Abdul El-Sayed a 'jihadist leprechaun,' a characterization that arrived as the Republican campaign in Michigan intensified its attacks on the race. Cruz made the remark at a campaign event outside Detroit on Wednesday. He used the term to describe El-Sayed's political identity in what he framed as a battle over national security and ideology.
Cruz argued that El-Sayed would likely receive top-level security clearance if elected. He suggested the Michigan candidate could serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Cruz stated that if El-Sayed is a passionate supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, there is a real risk Americans will die as a result. The Muslim Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organization by the Trump administration in January.
El-Sayed has repeatedly denied membership in the group. In a recent interview with Fox News, he stated, 'I have never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, I never will be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.' His campaign spokesperson Cole Wozniak responded to Cruz's comments by calling the Texas senator deeply unpopular. Wozniak noted that Cruz voted to cut healthcare for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders. He described the attacks as an effort to distract voters from rising prices for gas and groceries.
The Republican focus on the Muslim Brotherhood stems largely from social media posts by El-Sayed's half-sister, Fatten Elkomy. In 2012 and 2013, she noted that their birthmother was active in the group in Egypt during the early 1970s. El-Sayed was born in the United States and said his parents divorced when he was three. He was raised by his stepmother and has not discussed his birthmother's past involvement with the group.
Cruz also pointed to El-Sayed's role as president of the Muslim Students' Association at the University of Michigan. He cited a 2011 op-ed supporting protests against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and a 2012 open letter supporting President Mohamed Morsi. Morsi represented the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Obama administration engaged with Morsi's government until the Egyptian military removed him from power in July 2013.
Republican nominee Mike Rogers has called the Michigan matchup the most important race in the country. He stated that socialism is married with Muslim Brotherhood ideology in El-Sayed's platform. Rogers claimed El-Sayed is a liar about his ties to the group. He said, 'When you can't tell the truth about things that matter on life and death, I just don't think you have any business being in the United States Senate.'
El-Sayed argued that Republicans are suggesting he has dual loyalties to the United States and another country. In Marquette, Michigan, on October 16, he said, 'My mom and my sister are not running for office. I'm running for office. Judge me by my actions and my work.' He asked voters not to assume he is not deeply committed to the Constitution because he prays differently.
Cruz responded to the dual loyalty question by saying El-Sayed's demonstrated loyalties are to the Muslim Brotherhood. He clarified that he is discussing ideology and support for a terrorist organization, not how El-Sayed prays. The Michigan Senate race is currently rated as a toss-up by the CBS News Battleground Tracker. Michigan voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2024 but elected Democrat Elissa Slotkin to the Senate in 2024.
