Michigan Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed linked to Iranian-backed religious network

In a tightly contested primary, Abdul el Sayed edged out Rep. Haley Stevens to claim the Democratic Senate nomination, marking a milestone as the first Muslim American nominated by a major party. His victory, backed by roughly $65 million in external spending, has drawn scrutiny over his engagement with a network of mosques and clerics linked to Iran’s government. He helped launch a $20 million mosque in Dearborn Heights, where the leading imam urged voters to treat support for el Sayed as a religious obligation and denounced his Democratic rival as a pro-Israel puppet.

Additional ties include an early campaign donor who once served as an ideological officer for Iran’s navy and who has condemned U.S. actions against Iranian leaders. El Sayed has avoided commenting on the death of Iran’s former supreme leader, a stance that opponents plan to exploit. The race against Republican Mike Rogers could determine Senate control and may prompt investigations into the alleged foreign influence of the highlighted religious institutions.