Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed quietly removed dozens of old videos from his YouTube channel as he works to reposition himself for the general election in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races. The Michigan Senate race now pits El-Sayed against Republican nominee Mike Rogers, with the contest set for Nov. 3.
At least 100 of El-Sayed’s videos were made private before his primary victory last week, according to reporting first flagged by CNN’s KFile. Among the material that surfaced from archived copies was a July 10, 2024, video in which he argued for “alternative ways of celebrating” Independence Day that would be “just as fun” and “less destructive.” The clip was broken into segments with titles including “Fireworks just aren’t worth it: hear us out” and “Fireworks can trigger PTSD in veterans.” The full video itself carried the title, “Can we PLEASE find another way to celebrate July 4th? Four reasons why fireworks suck.”
El-Sayed also faced scrutiny over remarks about football. In one video, he questioned whether the sport was “ethical” or “safe,” even though he once played high school football. In separate audio, he described football as “very much associated with a particularly masculine and oftentimes toxically masculine culture.” Another archived clip showed him suggesting that the Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms could be replaced with a right to health care.
His comments on guns were not limited to the deleted videos. In 2023, he posted on X, “As a father and a public health doctor, I ask this with all of my being: Do we love our children enough to rethink our relationship with guns?” He added, “The second amendment never meant any gun for anyone anywhere at any time.” The following month, he also wrote, “Happy Fourth of July, Michigan! Enjoy the fireworks as we commit ourselves to building a country where all of us can thrive.”
