Tucker Carlson, a well-known conservative commentator, has unexpectedly endorsed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race. In doing so, he criticized El-Sayed’s Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, calling him “unfit to serve.” This endorsement comes amid a surge in Islamophobic attacks directed at El-Sayed and Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor elected in New York, around the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Both men faced intense scrutiny and criticism from right-wing media and some mainstream outlets, with accusations that their Muslim identities made them anti-American. El-Sayed was accused of not caring enough about the victims of the 9/11 attacks due to his past criticism of the War on Terror. He once said he would spend September 11th mourning the victims of the attacks and the following day mourning those affected by the wars that followed. Carlson defended El-Sayed, arguing that questioning the Bush administration’s actions in Iraq was not “disgusting,” a term used by Rogers’ campaign to describe El-Sayed’s views. Carlson, who has been critical of U.S. military actions, including those in Iran and Israel, has previously called such strikes “disgusting” and “evil.” Carlson’s endorsement may hurt Rogers, as it suggests that efforts to paint El-Sayed as a radical extremist are not working. Polls indicate that El-Sayed has gained support since the primary, partly due to declining public approval of former President Donald Trump’s policies in Iran. Trump’s approval ratings remain in the low 30s, influenced by economic concerns linked to the war. In Michigan, Democrats are trying to hold onto the Senate seat currently held by retiring Senator Gary Peters. To regain control of the Senate, they need to win Michigan and four other states. El-Sayed’s primary victory was marked by a contentious campaign, with organizations like AIPAC and some Democratic Party members criticizing his stance on Israel. This criticism intensified after the Israeli military began its siege of Gaza in 2023. El-Sayed’s campaign has drawn parallels to that of Zohran Mamdani, who won New York’s mayoral race despite facing similar anti-Muslim attacks. El-Sayed has focused on steering the conversation back to his policy positions whenever media or opponents bring up his faith, past comments about 9/11, or the support he has received from Hasan Piker, a Twitch streamer known for his anti-Zionist views and controversial remarks about the wars in the Middle East.