Michigan Race Puts Identity and Immigration in Focus

Abdul El-Sayed planned a Detroit get-out-the-vote rally for Oct. 18, while Republican Mike Rogers worked to cut into the Democratic nominee’s support among Black voters in Michigan. The contest also brought a dispute over El-Sayed’s Muslim identity and constitutional allegiance, as voters raised immigration and affordability at campaign-related gatherings.

Constitution and Allegiance

At an Oct. 17 town hall, an attendee repeatedly pressed El-Sayed to reject the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political movement. El-Sayed replied: “You assume ... that because I am Muslim, that somehow I would have some allegiance to something that is not our Constitution.” He added, “For me, that Constitution is the guiding light.”

El-Sayed could become the first Muslim elected to the Senate. Earlier in the week, he denied that he or his family had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, calling the assumption “an insane thing to assume.” In recent days, Republicans, including Rogers and President Donald Trump, commented on possible connections between El-Sayed and the organization.

The latest criticism followed the resurfacing of old tweets by El-Sayed’s half-sister. In a 2012 post, she described “an amazing talk with my mom about her activism in the Muslim Brotherhood during the early 70s while she was in college.” The article reported the tweet and El-Sayed’s denials, but no evidence that El-Sayed himself had ties to the organization.

Campaigns, Endorsements and Costs

In Texas, Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton and Democratic opponent James Talarico planned competing events. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Paxton as he sought backing from traditional Republicans. Neil Bradley, the Chamber’s executive vice president and chief policy officer, called Paxton “a defender of free enterprise and the pro-growth policies that empower American businesses to thrive.”

Paxton defeated the Chamber’s preferred candidate, Sen. John Cornyn, in a contentious primary runoff, but Cornyn still withheld his endorsement. Trump backed Paxton over Cornyn in the primary. On Thursday, he said Cornyn was “doing everything possible to make it hard” for Paxton to win in November. Paxton focused his general-election campaign on economic issues, proposed new tax deductions to lower living costs, and criticized Talarico for voting against a 2019 bill to constitutionally ban an income tax in Texas, which currently has no income tax.

Talarico, a Democratic state representative seeking to become the first Democrat to win statewide office in decades, appeared onstage with The Chicks at a San Antonio concert on Oct. 17. Lead vocalist Natalie Maines called him “a man with a plan.” The band’s political history includes backlash after Maines said at a 2003 concert that the group didn’t endorse the Iraq war and were “ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.” Country radio stations across the country pulled the group’s music after the remarks.

Voters and Protest Events

Republicans privately grappled with voter anger over “corrupt politicians” and billionaires, as well as worries about the cost of living and foreign policy. The live report said corruption appeared to be hurting the GOP as it sought to retain control of the House. It also reported that Sen. Bernie Sanders and other leading Democratic surrogates had returned to the campaign trail.

Thousands of voters and protesters attended “No Kings: Vote Early” events on Oct. 17. Organizers said the gatherings opposed voter-suppression efforts and helped people plan to vote; anti-Trump sentiment was also present. In Washington, D.C., people gathered near the site of Trump’s proposed triumphal arch. Retired climate scientist Peter Jipp said, “There is an ongoing effort to undermine democracy in this country. The billionaires are funding this, and the people need to take power back into our own hands.”

At the Lincoln Memorial, members of Georgetown College Democrats attended a gathering. Jeremiah Fuentes, an 18-year-old Georgetown University freshman and Indiana voter, identified immigration and affordability as top issues. “I come from a Hispanic household and ... a family of immigrants so (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the raids that have happened are definitely impactful for me and my community,” he said. “And then the economy, you know, it's unaffordable.” The election was less than two weeks away. Campaign appearances and turnout events were planned across the country.