commentary

Republicans don't know how to handle this Michigan Democrat

Published October 19, 2026 6:45AM (EDT)

Democratic Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks from the stage during a campaign event at the State Theater on Oct. 10, 2026 in Traverse City, Michigan. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Jesse Watters can’t seem to stop admiring Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. The Fox News host loves to talk about how Michigan’s Democratic nominee for the Senate is “in great shape” and how “Abdul . . . beat the machine” — meaning the party establishment’s candidate, Rep. Haley Stevens — in a hard-fought primary . During an interview in August, Watters clearly enjoyed El-Sayed’s jokes and blunt speech, which included calling his opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, a “beta,” and asking the host if he was circumcised when Watters tried to corner him on gender-affirming surgery for minors. The next day, Watters made no bones about El-Sayed’s appeal. “I like him,” he said . “I don’t want to like him.…