El-Sayed’s liberal agenda clashes with Muslim voters who back him anyway: ‘Male version’ of Ilhan Omar

DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S.

Senate in Michigan, faces a striking disconnect among some Muslim voters who oppose his positions on abortion and LGBTQ issues yet say they plan to vote for him anyway.

"He is a Democrat with a Muslim mask," one attendee of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Convention, who requested anonymity to avoid social reprisals, told Fox News Digital.

"Basically he's like Ilhan Omar , but like a male version." He went on to say that, while he takes objection to El-Sayed’s positions on abortion and LGBTQ rights, he "want[s] him to get elected" to improve his community’s "representation." Fox News Digital was on the ground at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual conference in Detroit over Labor Day weekend, where El-Sayed delivered the marquee speech amid controversy over past remarks by some conference speakers.

The episode has added scrutiny to El-Sayed’s ties to the organization and the political coalition surrounding his campaign. ‘DESTROYING THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE’: EL-SAYED’S POLITICAL ORBIT COMPLICATES EFFORT TO MODERATE HIS IMAGE In total, Fox News Digital spoke to about 10 attendees at the conference, some of whom requested anonymity or declined to be recorded but agreed to speak on background.

Several described a tension between their personal views on social issues and their support for El-Sayed, particularly on abortion and LGBTQ issues.

El-Sayed supports codifying Roe v.

Wade into law, funding Planned Parenthood , establishing LGBTQ-inclusive sex education and allowing doctors to perform sex-change operations on children.

Islamic theology generally takes a more restrictive view of abortion, gender and sexuality, though interpretations vary among Muslims.

Another attendee, a Navy veteran, told Fox News Digital that he strongly opposes El-Sayed’s positions on issues like abortion and LGBTQ sex education, but feels like the Republican Party has let him down following the 2024 election.

"I voted for Donald Trump .

When it comes to values, I'm a Republican.

But unfortunately they have betrayed us," he said.

He pointed to the Trump administration’s involvement in foreign wars and cost-of-living concerns as the issues pushing him to support El-Sayed despite the Democrat’s liberal beliefs.