Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee has a massive family problem on his hands.
Abdul El-Sayed, who just clinched the party's primary, is now dealing with fallout over his younger sister Eman Abdelhadi and her response to the horrific Hamas assault on Israel. A video surfaced showing Abdelhadi opening remarks with "Allahu Akbar" in what critics have labeled a celebration of the October 7 attack, according to reports. The timing could not be worse for the progressive candidate heading into a general election showdown against Trump-backed Republican Mike Rogers.
Abdelhadi, who holds a position as associate professor at the University of Chicago's Department of Comparative Human Development, also posted on social media the very day Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack left approximately 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. She went after Sen. Bernie Sanders on that same day for condemning the Hamas assault.
She later attempted to explain her initial reaction, claiming she was responding to early footage of barriers and checkpoints being torn down before the full horror of the massacre became clear.
Here's where it gets even juicier for political watchers. El-Sayed himself has completely dodged the controversy. Not a word. Total silence on his sister's now viral comments. Meanwhile, Republicans are practically licking their chops at the ammunition this hands them in one of the most critical Senate contests in the country.
Abdelhadi is no stranger to controversy or activism. She is half-Egyptian and half-Palestinian and has built an extensive record of progressive political involvement. She co-authored a book titled "Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072" and contributed writing to "Homosexual Intifada," a collection featuring queer Palestinian authors.
Her activist resume also includes a criminal arrest. She was taken into custody during a protest against ICE in Illinois last year after authorities alleged she spit on an Illinois state trooper.
Despite all the heat, Abdelhadi has publicly championed her brother's political career. Back in April 2025, she posted on X, bragging about her older brother's Senate run and calling him a fighter for healthcare, housing, and working people. "I am a proud little sister," she wrote.
Abdelhadi has also revealed that she received anonymous death threats and harassment serious enough that she prepared a will. She told the Chicago Sun-Times that the intimidation would not silence her and that stepping back would betray her values.
El-Sayed was already catching heat over resurfaced remarks on topics ranging from the Second Amendment to cultural issues. Now, with his sister's rhetoric dominating the conversation, the Republican opposition has a whole new playbook to deploy. This Michigan Senate race, which could determine which party controls the chamber, just got significantly more combustible.
Grab the popcorn, folks. This one is far from over.
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