Vice President JD Vance labeled Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed "very, very evil" during a Monday rally in Sterling Heights, Michigan, while campaigning for Republican candidate Mike Rogers.

Speaking at an event hosted by the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc., Vance accused El-Sayed of promoting division along racial and religious lines. "I realize that there’s something about Abdul El-Sayed that is very, very evil and on the rise in the United States of America today," Vance said. He described the Democrat as someone who shows sympathy for people who share his religion but none for others.

Vance tied his remarks to El-Sayed's associations and responses to recent events, including a March terrorist attack on Temple Israel synagogue near Detroit. He also criticized El-Sayed for campaigning alongside far-left commentator Hasan Piker, who previously claimed America deserved the 9/11 attacks. "My message to Abdul El-Sayed is: You can pal around with terrorist sympathizers... or you could empathize not with the children who were targeted at Temple Israel, but with the attacker," Vance stated.

The vice president added a personal rebuke, telling El-Sayed to "keep my wife’s name the hell out of your mouth" after the Democrat referenced Vance's late grandfather in comments about Second Lady Usha Vance.

El-Sayed, a progressive public health official who won a contentious Democratic primary in early August, responded by redirecting the term "evil" toward Trump administration policies. In a statement, he said evil involves cutting healthcare for tax breaks, raising costs on groceries and gas through trade wars, and dividing people for political gain.

The Michigan Senate race remains one of the most competitive contests this fall for control of the chamber. The seat opened after Sen. Gary Peters opted not to seek a third term. Rogers, a former congressman, faces El-Sayed in November.

Vance urged voters to reject El-Sayed at the polls, framing the contest as a stand against rising hatred and group-based politics.