{"id":2636297,"date":"2026-07-27T22:14:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T02:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/el-sayed-clarifies-ogre-remark-stevens-dismisses-aipac-concerns-in-final-debate\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T22:16:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T02:16:33","slug":"el-sayed-clarifies-ogre-remark-stevens-dismisses-aipac-concerns-in-final-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/el-sayed-clarifies-ogre-remark-stevens-dismisses-aipac-concerns-in-final-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"El Sayed clarifies &#8216;ogre&#8217; remark, Stevens dismisses AIPAC concerns in final debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fel-sayed-clarifies-ogre-remark-stevens-dismisses-aipac-concerns-in-final-debate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2636297&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>During the final debate before Michigan&#8217;s Democratic primary,candidate Abdul el Sayed defended his controversial remarks comparing Senator John Fetterman to an \u201cogre,\u201d amid criticism. He explained that the comment was directed solely at Fetterman and emphasized his call for civility in politics, contrasting his own stance with outside spending groups backing opponent Haley Stevens. Stevens responded by criticizing el Sayed\u2019s focus on ideological battles over legislating and highlighted her support for a two-state solution regarding Israel. The race has been heavily influenced by considerable outside spending, including PACs funded by interests such as AIPAC and el Sayed\u2019s family, with millions of dollars involved.Both candidates are running in a highly competitive race, with Stevens endorsed by party leaders and el Sayed supported by progressive figures like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The outcome hinges on a close contest with escalating campaign finance tensions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a> Democratic <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a> candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23138\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a> used the final debate before next week\u2019s primary to defend controversial comments comparing Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-fetterman\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1175\">John Fetterman <\/a>(D-PA) to an \u201cogre,\u201d while Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) brushed aside criticism over millions of dollars in outside spending backing her campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the debate, el Sayed was asked whether he regretted inflammatory rhetoric after recently saying during a donor Zoom call that if he won the primary, he would have \u201cno problem\u201d backing primary challenges against lawmakers such as Fetterman.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4665388\/el-sayed-stevens-final-michigan-senate-debate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>El Sayed clarifies \u2018ogre\u2019 remark as Stevens dismisses AIPAC concerns in final debate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4665081\/michigan-abdul-el-sayed-ogre-on-a-pike-leak\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>El Sayed swamped with criticism after leaked \u2018ogre on a pike\u2019 comment<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4665073\/abdul-el-sayed-michigan-senate-leaked-comments-2028-haley-stevens\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Abdul el Sayed\u2019s 2028 ambitions cloud Michigan Senate race against Haley Stevens<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIdeally, you put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message,\u201d el Sayed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4665081\/michigan-abdul-el-sayed-ogre-on-a-pike-leak\/\">said during the call<\/a>, according to audio obtained by <em>Politico<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked whether the race would benefit from a more civil tone, el Sayed said the remark was directed solely at Fetterman, whom he accused of abandoning the values on which he was elected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was referring to a guy named John Fetterman, who\u2019s a senator from Pennsylvania who has done terrible things, got elected on a set of values, and is now completely throwing those values in the mud,\u201d el Sayed said. \u201cI think it\u2019s important for all of us to have an honest opinion about what we\u2019re going to do to make sure that our Senate looks like the people it represents.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed also sought to portray himself as the candidate calling for civility, noting he had publicly urged supporters not to attack Stevens personally after she was booed at the Michigan <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"288\">Democratic Party<\/a> convention. He then accused outside groups supporting Stevens of flooding the airwaves with personal attacks, pointing to millions of dollars spent by the United Democracy Project, a<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/super-pac\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1910\"> super PAC <\/a>affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevens responded by pivoting away from the rhetoric controversy and arguing that el Sayed\u2019s own comments on the donor call showed he was more interested in ideological battles than legislating.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMichigan needs a workhorse,\u201d Stevens said. \u201cI\u2019m offering these ideas respectfully.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevens was later pressed on the role of AIPAC-aligned outside spending in the race, which has become one of the campaign\u2019s defining issues, but said it is \u201cabsolutely not\u201d cause for concern, noting she is \u201cdeeply proud to represent one of the largest Jewish populations in a congressional district in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPeople have every right to be frustrated about our campaign finance system,\u201d Stevens said, claiming that el Sayed has \u201ca super PAC that his father-in-law funds that has millions of dollars going into it.\u201d While acknowledging differences with el Sayed on Israel policy, she defended her support for a two-state solution and said both el Sayed and Israeli Prime Minister <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"378\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> had criticized her positions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMichiganders want peace,\u201d she said. \u201cThey deserve to see peace. And that is where I have always cast my vote.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed countered that the race has been shaped by unprecedented outside spending.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4654625\/bernie-sanders-barnstorms-michigan-kingmaker-credibility\/\"><strong>BERNIE SANDERS BARNSTORMS MICHIGAN WITH KINGMAKER CREDIBILITY AT STAKE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe difference between us is $46 million of PAC spending,\u201d he said, arguing the money reflects outside interests seeking to influence the election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevens and el Sayed enter the final week before the Aug. 4 Democratic primary locked in one of the party\u2019s most closely watched Senate contests. Stevens has consolidated support from much of the Democratic establishment, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), among others. El Sayed has been endorsed by progressive figures, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), along with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA).<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>El Sayed defends &#8216;ogre&#8217; remark; Stevens dismisses outside spending<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2636298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26189067784672_d38d83.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33006,15571,5894],"class_list":["post-2636297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-aipac","tag-debates","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26189067784672_d38d83.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2636297"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2636300,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636297\/revisions\/2636300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2636298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2636297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2636297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2636297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}