JD Vance Rebuts Michigan Senate Candidate Over Remarks About His Wife
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At a Detroit rally, JD Vance told Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to focus on policy rather than personal attacks, accusing the Democrat of undermining auto-industry workers.
JD Vance used a Detroit rally organized by a pro-President super PAC to urge Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to keep discussion on policy issues rather than personal remarks about his wife, Usha Vance.
"I actually think that the people of Michigan think it's kind of weird when you talk about another guy's wife," Vance said, adding that voters want to hear about public-policy ideas and protection of auto-workers.
Vance also criticized El-Sayed for supporting policies that, in his view, have reduced wages and jobs for Michigan auto workers. He linked the debate to immigration, claiming El-Sayed had previously advocated for illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, which Vance said could threaten truck-driver wages.
El-Sayed had earlier suggested Vance might be taking his wife “back in time to meet Papaw,” a comment Vance described as a personal jab. The candidate later clarified that his point was about perceived notions of who is “more American,” noting that Vance’s own in-laws are immigrants.
Conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky responded to El-Sayed’s remarks, suggesting the candidate was labeling rural white Michiganders as racist.
The El-Sayed campaign did not provide a comment when contacted for comment.