Sen. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) threw his support behind Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, arguing that the candidate's apology for controversial comments made after a synagogue attack should be accepted. Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Clyburn said he had spoken with El-Sayed and was taking him at his word.
"I have spoken with the good doctor. He's our nominee. I support his election. I take him at his word. He has apologized. He says he will not campaign with Piker anymore. I'd say that it's worth checking him at his word," Clyburn told host Kristen Welker, referring to left-wing streamer Hasan Piker. "All of us deserve second chances," he added.
El-Sayed, who narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary, faced backlash for his initial response to the March attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. Authorities say Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Lebanon, deliberately drove a truck into the synagogue, injuring a security guard. The Department of Homeland Security identified the attack as targeting Jewish people.
In the aftermath, El-Sayed said "violence is a cycle" and "hurt people hurt people," remarks that drew criticism from Jewish groups. At the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus on Saturday, he acknowledged his error. "I made a mistake," he said. "If my statement caused pain, I'm sorry. That was not what I intended."
The controversy also involved Piker, who had campaigned for El-Sayed. Piker has faced accusations of antisemitism for past remarks about American Jews and Israel, including saying that if Jews are "singularly invested in" Israel, someone could "take action" against them. He has also called Hamas "a thousand times better" than Israel, which he described as a "fascist settler colonial apartheid state."
El-Sayed has since distanced himself from Piker, pledging not to campaign with him. In a recent interview with Semafor, El-Sayed dismissed the focus on Piker, arguing that Michigan voters care more about cost of living and healthcare. "The effort to make this race about a streamer living in Los Angeles is actually kind of laughable," he said.
Clyburn's endorsement is significant for El-Sayed as he prepares for the general election against Republican Mike Rogers. The race is expected to be competitive, with control of the Senate at stake. Clyburn, a influential figure in the Democratic Party, has previously shown a willingness to support candidates who have made mistakes but shown contrition.
The endorsement comes amid broader debates about how Democrats handle candidates with controversial ties. Piker's role in the campaign has sparked strategy discussions within the party, and El-Sayed's decision to cut ties has been seen as a step to address concerns. However, some Jewish voters remain skeptical, as earlier responses were seen as tepid.
El-Sayed's campaign has emphasized his background as a physician and public health expert, focusing on issues like healthcare and economic inequality. He now faces Rogers, a former FBI agent and House Intelligence Committee chairman, in what is likely to be one of the most closely watched Senate races this cycle.
