As primary season winds down, a handful of Senate candidates are drawing national attention for remarks and missteps that could shape the 2026 midterms.
In Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has become a focal point for Republicans hoping to nationalize the election. El-Sayed, a progressive who has previously been associated with left-wing commentator Hasan Piker, defeated Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in the primary and now faces former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., in the general election.
El-Sayed’s campaign has emphasized standard progressive priorities. “You deserve good health care,” he said while campaigning. “You deserve protections at your job.” He has also voiced support for Medicare for All and reparations for slavery, saying, “I just think it’s past time to have that conversation. That shouldn’t be a crazy thing.”
But an appearance on Fox drew scrutiny after El-Sayed compared Sharia law to Catholic canon law, suggested repealing the Second Amendment, and, when asked by host Jesse Watters about transgender athletes in youth sports, responded: “Circumcision is surgery on a kid’s ding-a-ling. So, you really want to bring that up? I just think you guys are really selective about how you guys want to talk about things.”
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, R-Mich., pointed to the exchange as evidence for her party’s messaging. “It’s common sense versus communist crazy. And don’t believe my word. Listen to what El-Sayed says,” she told Fox Business.
El-Sayed’s past ties to Piker, who has been criticized for antisemitic remarks, have also drawn Democratic criticism. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called Piker’s comments “dangerous, malicious and antisemitic” and said they “shouldn’t be tolerated by anyone in the public square.”
El-Sayed has since sought to distance himself, telling a rally, “I got so much exposure and empowerment from the Jewish community. Jewish people are a light unto the world.” Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., was unmoved, telling Fox: “His response was pathetic, and it did not answer the call. This is not a guy who any of us should embrace.”
Michigan’s race is considered pivotal to Democrats’ hopes of flipping the Senate, and Republicans are betting El-Sayed’s comments will resonate beyond the state. Whether that proves true may depend on turnout dynamics; House Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Ted Lieu, D-Calif., urged supporters this week to “Just go fu—– vote.”
South Carolina’s Untested Senator
In South Carolina, Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., has faced her own test of readiness. Graham was appointed to the seat by Gov. Henry McMaster after the unexpected death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and later ran for the full term with President Trump’s backing.
During a GOP primary runoff debate against Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., Graham was asked about U.S. interests regarding Taiwan and replied, “I’m not that informed on national security. But I do support the military.” Her brother had built a reputation on foreign policy and died shortly after returning from meetings in Turkey and Ukraine.
Graham has argued that voters care more about domestic issues than foreign affairs. “You know how many (people) brought up Taiwan or national security?” she said while campaigning. “Not one. They’re talking about the rising cost of health care and affordability.”
When a reporter pressed her for specifics on lowering costs, asking whether she had a piece of legislation in mind, Graham said, “We’ll see when I get there.” She has been serving in the Senate since mid-July.
Norman, her primary opponent, focused on the economy: “Prices are still too high. Groceries. Gas. (Voters are) feeling it in their pocketbooks.” Graham defeated Norman in the primary and is favored to win the full six-year term in November against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews.
Both races illustrate a recurring dynamic in modern campaigns: candidates who perform well in controlled settings can struggle under the scrutiny of national television, where offhand remarks can quickly become defining moments.
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