Abdul El-Sayed's swipe at Usha Vance draws backlash from Michigan GOP: 'He has a Napoleon complex'

DETROIT, MICHIGAN: Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Michigan, has stirred controversy over a social media comment aimed at second lady Usha Vance.

The criticism came quickly. As he mentioned Usha and her late grandfather-in-law on X (formerly Twitter), Vice President JD Vance’s team and Michigan Republicans blasted El-Sayed for dragging family members into the campaign when it wasn’t needed. Republicans even warned that El-Sayed risked turning off Indian-American voters and women, groups that could tip the balance in a tight race.

Michigan GOP warns Abdul El-Sayed's remark could hurt key voter blocs

A Republican insider told the New York Post that El-Sayed’s comment was an effort to look tough by going after a public figure who isn’t even part of the race.

In their view, the remark backfired; it made El-Sayed look bad, not the intended target. Vance hasn’t commented on the post himself yet. Still, Republicans expect him to address it head-on when he campaigns in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District near Detroit on Monday, August 31.

El-Sayed had commented, "So do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no…," sharing a video of the vice president criticizing his views on Sharia law and reflecting on the current state of the Democratic Party. 

“I think Abdul has a Napoleon complex and he victimizes women to look tough instead of the actual men he claims to have a problem with,” the insider told The Post.

“For sure,” he’s going to come out swinging, state GOP co-chair Sunny Reddy told the outlet. “He’s going to see more reaction from the [Indian-American] community,” he said, arguing that campaigns should avoid bringing family members into political attacks.

“We may have differences. We attack each other. But going to the family and the kids is a disaster,” he said. “They are not the one running.”

Reddy predicted it would hurt El-Sayed with middle-aged women, Indian-Americans, and other ethnic groups, and slammed him for dragging Usha’s recent pregnancy into his attacks.

“Enough is enough,” he said, adding that the party is already working to put El-Sayed’s comments into an ad. The state party and Indian-American leaders demanded Friday that the Democrat apologize.

Broader scrutiny of Abdul El-Sayed's campaign

Michigan ranks third nationally in female voter turnout, with about 69% of women voting in recent elections, roughly 10 points above the national average, according to Census Bureau data.

Reddy also referenced another crude El-Sayed remark that brought up Usha, this one during the candidate’s April appearance on 'The Allen Analysis Show' podcast. 

“What do you think is going through Usha’s head when [JD Vance] talks? She’s like, ‘Damn, I have to sleep with him,'” he said. “I guess she’s pregnant so something is happening.”

El-Sayed has also found himself under fire from members of his own party because he’s still linked to political commentator Hasan Piker, who’s sparked major backlash over things he’s said about 9/11.

Earlier this week in Ann Arbor, El-Sayed stood with Representatives Jamie Raskin and Debbie Dingell. Dingell made it clear to supporters she didn’t want any more questions about Piker, insisting that’s not what this race is about.

But not everyone feels that way. James Carville, the former Clinton adviser, spoke out on his podcast, calling El-Sayed’s connection to Piker concerning. Carville urged El-Sayed to publicly state which of Piker’s comments he disagrees with.

“I find this guy [El-Sayed] to be really, really troubling. I think he’d do himself some good if he made very clear the specific things that Hasan Piker said that he disagrees with, because I gotta tell you, they make me really, really uncomfortable,” Carville said on his 'Politics War Room' podcast.