Michigan Democrat accuses Abdul El-Sayed of 'deeply sexist attacks' on female political rivals

Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., accused progressive Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of making "deeply sexist attacks" against female opponents during a Wednesday interview, citing his criticism of Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as voters prepare for the state's Aug. 4 primary.

"There is a uniquely sexist bent to the things that he has said about women," Scholten told anchor Jake Tapper on CNN's "The Lead." "He said that Congresswoman Stevens couldn’t string two sentences together, that, you know, she was sort of an empty vessel."

Scholten, who endorsed Stevens in the race to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., argued El-Sayed had disparaged Stevens’ intelligence and personality rather than focusing on policy disagreements.

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Rep. Hillary Scholten accused Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of making "deeply sexist attacks" against female Democrats. (Sarah Rice/Getty Images)

"It’s one thing to attack your opponent because of the substance of their issues," Scholten said. "It’s another thing to engage in what are deeply sexist attacks."

Fox News Digital reached out to Stevens and El-Sayed for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

El-Sayed previously told Semafor that Stevens was "a suit with a large AIPAC account" and suggested the pro-Israel group might teach her "how to string together two coherent sentences."

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Scholten criticized El-Sayed’s remarks about Rep. Haley Stevens and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during a CNN interview. (AP Photo/Kristen Norman)

Scholten pointed to El-Sayed's rhetoric during his unsuccessful 2018 gubernatorial campaign against Whitmer, whose father previously served as president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

"Going back to his race with Governor Whitmer, he said she was bought and sold for by her dad’s company," Scholten said. "Essentially comparing her to property with no ideas of her own."

El-Sayed spokesperson Roxie Richner pushed back when Scholten first publicly raised concerns about his record with women.

"Unless the congresswoman has specific accusations she would like to make, perhaps it’s better to avoid repeating throwaway talking points to push an unfounded narrative," Richner said to Semafor. 

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Scholten warned that embracing candidates such as El-Sayed could take the Democratic Party in the wrong direction.

He addressed his remarks about Stevens during a Sunday interview on CNN's "State of the Union" after Tapper confronted him with the "two coherent sentences" comment.

"I don’t think it’s kind to make fun of somebody for how they talk or how they show up," El-Sayed said. "I also don’t think it’s kind to make insinuations about somebody’s character, as is being done to the tune of tens of millions of dollars."

Scholten said she was even more concerned by El-Sayed's decision to campaign with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who said in 2019 that "America deserved 9/11." El-Sayed has defended appearing with Piker while distancing himself from the comment.

"I give him credit for disavowing it after the fact, but the reality is he also didn’t have to choose to campaign with Hasan Piker," Scholten said. "To me, that’s a nonstarter."

When asked if she would support El-Sayed if he defeated Stevens, Scholten did not provide a direct answer to CNN.

"I cannot, I will not even come close to being associated with comments like America deserved September 11," Scholten said.

The congresswoman warned that embracing candidates associated with such rhetoric could further damage the Democratic Party.

"I think that condoning behavior like this from candidates like Abdul El-Sayed is taking us in a direction that we don’t want to go as a party," Scholten said.

El-Sayed's campaign urged supporters Friday to stop making personal attacks against Stevens.

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"It’s become impossible to ignore the way that people online make fun of my opponent for things that have nothing to do with her policies or politics. It’s unkind and unhelpful," El-Sayed said. "If you support me, please stop."