Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood at a Michigan town hall, but Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers disputed his recorded answer ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
At the Oct. 17 event in Caro, a questioner asked El-Sayed whether he would disavow the group. “Sure. Yes, absolutely,” El-Sayed replied. His campaign posted a video of the exchange.
CNN played the clip during an Oct. 18 interview with Rogers. After hearing the answer, Rogers said, “He didn't disavow it.” His statement conflicts with El-Sayed’s recorded reply.
The disagreement followed an Aug. 5 statement in which Rogers’ campaign alleged that El-Sayed had pledged support to the Muslim Brotherhood. Bridge Michigan reviewed the allegation and reported finding no evidence that El-Sayed had made such a pledge or had ties to the group.
El-Sayed used the town hall question to challenge an assumption that his Muslim faith might mean divided loyalties. He compared that suspicion with questions once put to former President John F. Kennedy about his Catholic faith. By posting the exchange, El-Sayed’s campaign brought that response into its election messaging.
The questioner introduced himself as “Tommy.” The Handbasket identified him as Thomas Teepell, as noted in our earlier account of the questioner. The Guardian reported that congressional staff records showed Teepell had worked for Republican Sen. Josh Hawley.
On Jan. 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated the Muslim Brotherhood’s Egyptian and Jordanian branches as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The Treasury said the U.S. Department of State also designated the Lebanese branch as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The announcement identified those branches, rather than the movement as a whole.
Michigan’s official candidate roster lists El-Sayed and Rogers for the Nov. 3 U.S. Senate election.
