Michigan leader voices concerns over El-sayed’s candidacy in leaked video

Williams questioned El-Sayed’s proposed policy solutions, stating, “You can tell people ‘Medicare for all’ and ‘money out of politics,’ how you going to do it?” He criticized what he perceived as unrealistic promises, calling them “snake oil” and “wolf tickets.”

He also revealed he prefers El-Sayed’s Democratic primary challenger, Haley Stevens, and alluded to personal issues with El-Sayed, stating he has “seen” a pattern of saying one thing and doing another.

During a meeting at his King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church in West Side Detroit, Williams acknowledged a lack of enthusiasm for El-Sayed within the black community, while also recognizing the pressure to vote Democratic. He stated, “I know that there is some hesitancy, some skepticism, and there’s some just flat-out disdain for the person who is the senatorial candidate for the Democratic Party.”

Williams encouraged voters to exercise their right to vote, but emphasized that individuals should vote according to their own convictions, even if that means voting Republican. He stated, “If they do, that is their prerogative.”

El-Sayed spoke at the Historic Second Baptist Church in Benton Harbor on Thursday. The audience was overwhelmingly white, a noticeable contrast to the neighborhood’s demographics, which are 82% Black.

Sharpton, who visited Detroit earlier this week to rally get-out-the-vote efforts, avoided endorsing El-Sayed, stating the focus should be on supporting candidates who are “best for us.” He declined to comment on concerns about El-Sayed within the black community.

El-Sayed has faced challenges in securing support from black voters, with a September Washington Post–Schar School poll revealing a 16-percentage-point gap between general Democratic support and support for El-Sayed among this demographic in Michigan. Both Williams and El-Sayed’s campaign have not responded to requests for comment.