He is a former Rhodes scholar, professor at an IVY league school, a doctor, but what has brought the most attention is that he also happens to be a Muslim. The son of Egyptian immigrants has faced repeated question on the campaign whether he plans to implement sharia, is a secret member of the Muslim brotherhood, and all kinds of wild conspiracies that have riddled the fringe edges of the web. As he politely gives a no to the ridiculous charges, he reminds people of the turning point in American history when John F. Kennedy was a candidate who just happened to be Catholic.
He is running an insurgency style Bernie Sanders campaign, with a war chest already past $1 million dollars, much of it in small donations, and the very same people who are flocking to his campaign as volunteers were the same who flocked to Bernie Sanders. When asked repeatedly about his Muslim background, El-Sayed told ABC News, ““I’m not running to be the first Muslim governor of Michigan. I’m running to be the governor of Michigan and I also happen to be Muslim.” He also added his thoughts on the new political reality of Donald Trump with ““People have always asked, how are you going to have a conversation with people in Donald Trump’s America? And my push-back is it’s not Donald Trump’s America, it is our United States of America,” El-Sayed says, “It’s the same responsibility that Americans have shared in our country since its inception.”
He has kept corporate money at a distance, comfortable with the idea of being an outsider candidate, yet serious and passionate about the issues. He has been vocal about universal healthcare for all in Michigan, pledged to take no corporate PAC money, raising the minimum wage to $15/hour, making Michigan a sanctuary state, and legalizing marijuana.
“it’s not Donald Trump’s America, it is our United States of America.”
Already El-sayed has broke new ground for a community in who was humiliated by Republican Michigan Governor Rick Synder at the annual conference of the Islamic Society of North America. In today’s political environment where mavericks are ruling the day, many analysts are giving him a strong chance at winning.
