Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D) and Vice President JD Vance (R) exchanged personal criticisms during campaign events for the 2026 midterm elections. During a campaign rally in Monroe, Michigan, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Vance criticized El-Sayed's stance on the war in Iran and referred to him as a \"little weasel.\" El-Sayed responded during a Sunday night interview on CNN and at a rally in Marquette, Michigan, using the athletic rivalry between the University of Michigan and Ohio State University to counter the Vice President's remarks.
The exchange follows Vance’s appearance at a rally supporting Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, who is running against El-Sayed for a seat in Michigan. Vance stated that voters deserve better than someone who should \"show a little gratitude to the country.\" During a recent CBS News town hall, Vance also questioned El-Sayed’s solutions for the current conflict in Iran, noting that El-Sayed has criticized decisions made by the president and the military.
Responding to the \"weasel\" comment, El-Sayed told a crowd in Marquette that he was instead a \"Wolverine,\" a reference to his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He further suggested during the CNN interview that Vance's alma mater, Ohio State University, owed the Vice President a \"refund\" for his education. Regarding foreign policy, El-Sayed argued that the war in Iran should not have started and advocated for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, as a means to contain nuclear proliferation.
The exchange comes as the race for this Senate seat is rated as a \"toss-up\" by the Cook Political Report. While Michigan was won by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, the electoral environment this year includes concerns regarding energy costs, the cost of living, and the war in Iran. The two parties are competing for the seat ahead of the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, where Michigan voters will cast ballots for either El-Sayed or Rogers.