Texas – Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says Abdul El-Sayed is “telling voters he’s a capitalist” while his own sister appears to contradict him in newly surfaced video, claims “tell voters what they want to hear. Get power. Then pursue radical-left policies”
Cruz made the comments after a video surfaced showing Eman Abdelhadi, El-Sayed’s sister, speaking with an attendee at the Socialism 2026 conference in Illinois about the Michigan Democrat’s campaign and his repeated description of himself as a capitalist.
“These are the same people who are now telling voters he’s a capitalist,” Cruz wrote. “His own sister says he isn’t. When a supporter says the goal is ‘getting him in,’ she responds: ‘Exactly.’ The message could hardly be clearer: tell voters what they want to hear. Get power. Then pursue radical-left policies.”
The video was first reported and published by The Midwesterner on Sept. 24. In the recording, the attendee tells Abdelhadi that his nephew, a University of Michigan student, had begun knocking on doors for El-Sayed’s Senate campaign but had become uncomfortable with the candidate’s public description of his economic views.
The attendee then tells Abdelhadi that he had reassured his nephew by saying that El-Sayed was not actually a capitalist. Abdelhadi responds “Yeah” and then says, “All we care about is the policies at this point.”
The attendee replies, “Exactly. Getting him in,” and Abdelhadi responds, “Exactly.”
The exchange has drawn attention because El-Sayed has repeatedly rejected the socialist label during his Senate campaign and has instead described himself as a capitalist, per reports.
In a July interview with Detroit television station WJBK, El-Sayed said, “I’m not a socialist, I’m just a capitalist who understands how capitalism works.” He argued that his criticism is directed at monopolies and that government regulation can help preserve competition and prevent consumers and workers from being disadvantaged by concentrated corporate power.
El-Sayed also told The Washington Post in July that he was a capitalist who understood how capitalism works and said he had read Adam Smith. The newspaper described his campaign as rooted in policies associated with progressive economic populism, including Medicare for All and efforts to reduce the influence of money in politics.
The issue has become part of a broader debate over how El-Sayed describes his political ideology as he prepares for the general election in Michigan.
El-Sayed won the Democratic Senate primary in August, defeating U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens. Reuters reported after the primary that El-Sayed had campaigned on healthcare reform, economic issues and ending unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. The victory positioned him to face Republican Mike Rogers in the general election for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
Reuters also reported that El-Sayed would need to broaden his appeal beyond the progressive voters who helped him win the primary as he entered the general election. His campaign has attracted support from prominent progressive figures, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
El-Sayed’s campaign has emphasized policies including Medicare for All, campaign finance changes and stronger regulation of large corporations. Axios reported before the Democratic primary that he also campaigned on abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arguing that Democrats needed a more aggressive policy agenda.
El-Sayed has continued to describe himself as a capitalist while making the case for major changes to the U.S. healthcare and economic systems. During an August speech after winning the Democratic nomination, he called for removing money from politics and guaranteeing healthcare through Medicare for All. Reuters recorded him saying that his campaign was focused on the cost of gas, groceries, housing and healthcare.
The newly surfaced video has given Republicans another opening to challenge El-Sayed’s characterization of his political views.
Cruz focused specifically on the apparent contradiction between El-Sayed’s public statements and the conversation involving his sister.
“Abdul El-Sayed is now telling voters he’s a capitalist,” Cruz wrote. “His own sister says he isn’t.” He then accused the candidate of presenting voters with one message during the campaign while intending to pursue different policies if elected.
The video itself does not show El-Sayed making the statements. Instead, the exchange involves his sister, Eman Abdelhadi, and another person at the Socialism 2026 conference. Reporting by The Midwesterner identified Abdelhadi as El-Sayed’s sister, and other outlets including Breitbart subsequently reported on the exchange.
The remarks have therefore become another point of contention in a Michigan Senate race already featuring sharp disagreements over healthcare, economic policy, immigration enforcement and foreign policy.
El-Sayed has publicly rejected being described as a socialist, while his Republican opponents have highlighted his progressive policy positions and his support from prominent figures associated with the Democratic left. Reuters and other outlets have documented his campaign’s progressive platform and the national attention surrounding his candidacy.
For Cruz, however, the newly surfaced conversation provides an opportunity to focus the debate on El-Sayed’s description of himself as a capitalist and whether that characterization accurately reflects the policies he would pursue in the Senate.
El-Sayed’s public position remains that he is a capitalist who supports government intervention to regulate monopolies and expand access to healthcare. His sister’s comments in the video have now become part of the Republican criticism surrounding that position, with Cruz arguing that the exchange raises questions about how El-Sayed is presenting himself to Michigan voters.
