Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed told Fox News host Jesse Watters on Monday that he would not defend the Green New Deal when confronted with his past support for the progressive climate proposal, a notable shift from years of publicly embracing it by name.
"Look, I'm not going to defend the Green New Deal," El-Sayed said after Watters confronted him over his record. When pressed further, El-Sayed redirected toward lowering energy costs and creating Michigan jobs through prioritizing renewables rather than addressing his previous positions directly.
A Fox News Digital review of El-Sayed's deleted social media posts, preserved via the Internet Archive, uncovered dozens of examples of the Michigan Senate candidate defending the Green New Deal by name. In January 2019, he wrote on X: "Rather than announcing the next iteration of this or that car at [the North American International Auto Show], I'd love to see automakers announce that they support the #GreenNewDeal."
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats have largely remained quiet about El-Sayed's evolving position on the Green New Deal. Some moderate voices within the party note that candidates often refine their messaging as races become more competitive, particularly in battleground states like Michigan.
El-Sayed himself has framed his current focus as practical rather than ideological. "I want to lower your energy costs and create jobs right here in Michigan," he told Watters when pressed on his past statements. "That's what I'm focused on." His campaign platform emphasizes renewable energy investment paired with protecting manufacturing jobs, a message designed to appeal across the party's factions.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have seized on the deleted posts as evidence of an attempt to hide progressive beliefs ahead of a competitive general election. National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Tommy Womack said in a statement: "Abdul El-Sayed spent years championing far-left policies, including the Green New Deal and calls to defund police. Now he's scrubbing his record and pretending he's someone else."
During the primary, Rep. Haley Stevens criticized El-Sayed over his past Green New Deal support on the grounds that it could lead to job losses in Michigan's automobile manufacturing industry. "Michiganders know what the Green New Deal means for auto workers," Stevens said at the time. "They want a senator who won't sell out their livelihoods for progressive wish-list items."
What the Numbers Show
Michigan was won by former President Donald Trump in 2024 but voted Democratic in 2020, making it one of the most closely watched battleground states this cycle. The Senate race is expected to be among the most competitive in the country, with control of Congress potentially hinging on narrow margins in key states.
Fox News Digital's review found that El-Sayed regularly mentioned the Green New Deal on X prior to launching his campaign but has not posted the phrase even once since announcing his candidacy. CNN previously reported that he scrubbed large swaths of commentary from the internet before entering the Senate race, with deletions appearing selective as some pre-campaign posts remain visible.
His deleted posts also included statements endorsing the "defund the police" movement and describing police departments as "standing armies we deploy against our own people." These positions contrast sharply with his current messaging emphasizing public safety and community investment.
The Bottom Line
The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to requests for comment on this article. His evolving positions highlight the challenge facing progressive candidates in competitive general election states, where wholesale adoption of left-wing policy proposals may complicate appeals to moderate voters.
Michigan's Senate race is expected to draw significant national resources and attention as both parties seek to secure the chamber's majority. How El-Sayed handles questions about his record will likely remain a focal point for Republican opposition researchers and media scrutiny in the weeks ahead.