Senate Republicans run ad campaign calling el Sayed 'dangerously radical' after Michigan victory

The Senate Leadership Fund, a GOP super PAC, is targeting progressive Michigan Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed with a six-figure ad campaign calling the Democratic candidate "dangerously radical," as Republican leadership seeks to flip Michigan's open Senate seat red.

SLF Executive Director Alex Latcham: "From calling to disarm the police to his close ties to extremist figures, Abdul El-Sayed is uniquely dangerous and unqualified..."

Latcham: "Chuck Schumer spent over $60 million in a failed effort to prevent Abdul from serving in the U.S. Senate."

El-Sayed: "I wonder why you would call somebody from my background, with my faith, dangerous?"

El-Sayed: "So, yeah, if you're Chuck Schumer, I'm dangerous. If you're AIPAC, I'm dangerous."

El Sayed, a former public health official, clinched the Democratic nomination in Michigan on Wednesday morning, defeating establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) by a slim margin. Endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), el Sayed will now face off against former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in November.

The Senate Leadership Fund is "already raring to go" in its mission to elect Rogers to the seat left vacant by retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI).

Its ad, titled "Abdul El-Sayed: Dangerously Radical," uses clips of el Sayed calling himself "dangerous" — though he was referring to the threat he poses to corporate interests and wealthy power brokers.

El Sayed responded at a campaign event: "Ask the folks who got a medical debt relief check if I'm dangerous." / "I'm not dangerous if you need government to work for you."

The Senate Leadership Fund also announced it would pour over $45 million into Rogers's campaign.