Michigan’s Senate race has taken a controversial turn as newly surfaced audio recordings show Democratic candidate Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed making remarks about 9/11 that critics call sympathetic to terrorists. Despite the backlash, prediction markets show El-Sayed gaining ground, leading some to question the state of American patriotism.
According to a report from The Daily Wire, El-Sayed is now leading his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, by a significant margin in Kalshi prediction markets, with a 63% chance of winning. This comes after audio emerged of El-Sayed saying, “9/11 scarred our country in profound ways, but what we did after 9/11 scarred millions of other people. When we talk about 9/11, we often fail to center them.”
Controversial Comments Draw Criticism
The remarks, which some interpret as sympathizing with terrorists or minimizing the attacks, have drawn sharp condemnation from conservative commentators. The Daily Wire piece argues that such statements would have ended a political career a decade ago but now appear to be helping El-Sayed.
Critics point to a pattern of anti-American rhetoric from El-Sayed, including blaming the West for “creating” terrorism, excusing attacks on American Jewish preschoolers with the phrase “hurt people hurt people,” and suggesting that the true victims of 9/11 were Muslims harmed in retaliation. His family connections to terrorism have also been highlighted.
Patriotism Poll Shows a Divide
The article attributes El-Sayed’s rise to a broader trend: declining patriotism among Democrats. It cites a 2026 Gallup poll showing that only 27% of Democrats are “very proud” to be American, compared to 92% of Republicans—a stark contrast from 25 years ago.
Patrick Bet-David, a conservative commentator, shared the poll data on X (formerly Twitter), noting, “What happened to democrats the last 25 years?” The implication is that left-leaning voters are increasingly open to candidates who are critical of the United States.
Why El-Sayed Is Winning
According to The Daily Wire, El-Sayed’s support stems from a left-wing base that despises America. The article suggests that many Democrats are “morally bankrupt, perpetually aggrieved persons” who have been “brainwashed” by corrupt education systems to see America as inherently evil. It argues that this self-loathing, combined with mass immigration and cultural shifts, is reshaping the electorate.
The piece also criticizes those who are “too comfortable” to understand what they stand to lose, noting that only about 1% of Americans serve in the military, making it “trendy to be thankless.” It concludes that America remains “the last best hope of earth,” a phrase quoted from Abraham Lincoln, and warns against letting “that flame gutter out.”
Reaction and Implications
The Daily Wire’s commentary reflects a growing concern among conservatives that candidates like El-Sayed are gaining traction not despite their anti-American views, but because of them. The article argues that “the most insulated from the consequences of bad ideas are the ones most eager to experiment with them.”
As the race in Michigan heats up, the question remains whether El-Sayed’s controversial past and recent comments will alienate moderate voters or further energize his base. With the election approaching, his lead in prediction markets suggests that, at least among those betting, the controversy is not hurting him.
This story is developing, and further updates on the Michigan Senate race are expected.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-why-a-terrorist-sympathizer-will-win-in-michigan