Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is facing fresh scrutiny after deleted YouTube videos resurfaced, showing him advocating for defunding the police and other progressive policies he now says he no longer supports. The clips, first reported by CNN's KFile, have become fodder for Republicans seeking to paint the candidate as out of step with Michigan voters.
In the videos, which were removed before El-Sayed officially launched his campaign, the former Detroit health director suggested that lawmakers consider replacing the Second Amendment with a constitutional right to healthcare. He also urged a rethinking of Independence Day celebrations, arguing that fireworks can trigger PTSD in veterans and pose dangers to children and pets.
One deleted video from 2024 was titled "Fireworks just aren't worth it: hear us out," according to CNN. El-Sayed's campaign responded by dismissing the clips as "cherry-picked comments from old podcasts" that do not reflect his current beliefs. "Abdul is the former captain of his high school football team, loves Michigan football on Saturdays, and celebrates the Fourth of July with fireworks like the next Michigander," a campaign spokesperson told CNN.
The resurfaced content also includes a conversation with sports analyst Garrett Bush, who compared the economics of football to sharecropping, a remark that could be used to question El-Sayed's cultural alignment with mainstream sports fans.
Strategists note that the clips are likely to be used by Republicans to tie El-Sayed to unconventional policies, a tactic that has proven effective in other races. The attacks come amid a broader pattern of Democrats facing questions about their past statements. Democratic socialist Francesca Hong has walked back old social media posts suggesting canceling Thanksgiving, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has distanced herself from her earlier support for defunding the police.
Ocasio-Cortez explained that the pandemic-era crisis opened a "huge opening of the Overton window," leading to consideration of policies that might not otherwise have been entertained. "We were shut down. There was some of the highest unemployment rates that we have seen because of those shutdowns. And I think that the doors were really open in trying to entertain any and every policy that was going to get us to a better place," she said on ABC's "This Week."
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, seized on the controversy, telling CNN's Manu Raju that El-Sayed's past comments are "making it easier" for GOP candidates in swing states like Michigan. "I'm certain that Abdul El-Sayed is making it easier. Because he is inconsistent with Michiganders of either side of the aisle," Scott said. "By the way, he's someone who wants to defund police, defund ICE, who wants to abolish our concept of a border. He's just wrong for Michigan."
El-Sayed's campaign has not responded to The Hill's request for comment beyond the earlier statement. The controversy adds another layer to an already competitive race, with Vance and El-Sayed trading barbs in recent weeks. The GOP is clearly looking to exploit these issues, as Scott sees an opening in Michigan.
Despite the backlash, El-Sayed has strong support among progressives, and Harris has endorsed his campaign, backing his progressive populist message. Whether these resurfaced clips will dent his appeal remains to be seen, but they have certainly given Republicans ammunition in a key battleground state.
