Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of 180 Church in Detroit, who gained national attention for a viral confrontation with the Dearborn City Council last week, has issued warnings about Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, arguing that his faith-based positions could influence federal judicial appointments if elected.
Sewell spoke with Fox News Digital about his concerns regarding El-Sayed, who is running against Republican Mike Rogers for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
What the Right Is Saying
Sewell argued during an interview with Fox News Digital that El-Sayed's stated goal of recommending federal judges to presidents raises concerns about judicial appointments.
"Can you imagine him being in the Senate, being able to recommend federal judges to presidents? That's his goal. His goal is to be able to recommend federal judge to presidents for appointments, and then we're going to find ourselves in Sharia law all over this land," Sewell said.
The pastor also referenced El-Sayed's 2009 New York Times interview in which he discussed following Sharia law when obtaining a loan for an Ann Arbor condo. In that interview, El-Sayed stated: "Ultimately, the question is, when I die and I stand before God and go through everything I did in my life, I don't want to say I did it the easy way instead of the Shariah-compliant way."
Sewell also criticized El-Sayed for campaign associations with socialist commentator Hasan Piker, who has made controversial statements including comments that "America deserved 9/11." Sewell described such rhetoric as "treason."
Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers' campaign has highlighted these connections, arguing that El-Sayed's agenda represents a threat to American values and institutions.
What the Left Is Saying
El-Sayed's campaign has rejected Sewell's characterization as unfounded attacks from a political ally of the Republican candidate. His spokesperson Roxie Richner told Fox News Digital that Sewell's comments represent "cheap attacks and hateful rhetoric."
"While he lives by the rules of his faith, as many Americans of various faiths do, Abdul opposes any effort by any religious community to write their faith laws into the laws of our country," Richner stated in a statement to the Washington Free Beacon when questions about El-Sayed's 2009 remarks resurfaced earlier this month.
El-Sayed, who earned an M.D. from Columbia University, has positioned himself as a progressive candidate focused on healthcare, climate policy, and economic issues. His campaign has emphasized that personal religious practice does not translate into political positions favoring any religious law over secular governance.
Progressive advocacy groups supporting El-Sayed have pointed to his public statements clarifying that he believes in the separation of church and state, and that no religious community should impose its faith-based rules on others through legislation.
What the Numbers Show
Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic primary for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat in August 2024 with approximately 36% of the vote in a four-candidate race, according to results certified by the Michigan Secretary of State.
The open seat, following Stabenow's retirement announcement, is considered one of the most competitive Senate races of the 2026 cycle. Neither major party has held a significant polling lead in recent public surveys.
El-Sayed holds an M.D. from Columbia University but did not complete a medical residency and does not hold an active medical license in Michigan or New York, according to state licensing records reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon. He previously served as Detroit's health director.
Senators do not directly appoint federal judges, but they provide recommendations to presidents who make nominations, with judicial appointments requiring Senate confirmation under Article II of the Constitution.
The Bottom Line
The controversy reflects broader tensions in Michigan's competitive Senate race over religious identity and political representation. El-Sayed would be the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate if he wins in November.
Sewell, who hosted then-candidate Donald Trump at his church during the 2024 campaign and spoke at the Republican National Convention that year, represents one voice among conservative critics questioning El-Sayed's positions on religious law. His viral city council appearance last week drew millions of views across social media platforms.
El-Sayed's campaign has maintained that his personal faith practice does not inform his policy positions, and that he supports secular governance. The race remains competitive as both campaigns enter the final stretch before November's general election.