Michigan's Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate is entering its final stretch with candidate Abdul El-Sayed holding a polling advantage over Rep. Haley Stevens, while the race has drawn attention for campaign messaging, endorsements, and debate over the role of religion and identity in the contest.

Video obtained by The Midwesterner shows El-Sayed campaign staff opening a weekly conference call Wednesday with the Arabic phrase "Inshallah," which translates to "God willing" or "if God wills."

“Inshallah, ya’ll!” one staffer said at the start of the call.

“Inshallah, we come back for 12 more of these,” added Mark Crain, El-Sayed's organizing director.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

The phrase is commonly used by Muslims as an expression of faith.

Campaign staff also expressed confidence about the state of the race during the meeting.

“We’re kicking ass!” one staffer said.

“We are. No, that’s real, we are,” Crain responded. “Say it, believe it!”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

WATCH:

The optimism follows new polling showing El-Sayed with a significant advantage in the Democratic primary.

An Emerson College Polling survey of 700 Michigan Democratic primary voters found El-Sayed leading Stevens, 54% to 39%, with 6% undecided. The poll was released this week as Democrats prepare to select a nominee to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich.

Emerson College Polling Executive Director Spencer Kimball said the results reveal a notable age divide among Democratic voters.

“There is a clear age divide in the Democratic Primary: voters under 50 break for El-Sayed by 42 percentage points, 67% to 25%, and that gap tightens among voters in their 50s to a 12-point lead, and voters over 60 flip to Stevens by a 14-point margin, 53% to 39%,” Kimball said.

According to 270toWin's average of the four public polls conducted during July, El-Sayed leads Stevens by an average of 45.5% to 39.8%.

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, exited the race on July 5, leaving El-Sayed and Stevens as the leading Democratic contenders.

The Democratic nominee will face former Congressman Mike Rogers, who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination and has received President Donald Trump's endorsement.

A separate survey conducted by the Glengariff Group for the Michigan Education Association and Business Leaders for Michigan found Stevens and Rogers essentially tied in a hypothetical general election matchup, with Stevens leading 45.5% to 44.7%, a difference within the poll's four-point margin of error.

The same poll found Rogers holding a larger advantage over El-Sayed, leading 49% to 38.7%.

The Michigan Senate contest is expected to be one of several races that could influence control of the U.S. Senate following the 2026 midterm elections.

The primary has also highlighted divisions within the Democratic Party.

El-Sayed has received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.

Stevens has secured endorsements from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, retiring Sen. Gary Peters, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Questions surrounding race and identity have also surfaced during the campaign.

Farmington Public Schools board member Angie Smith recently explained why she is supporting Stevens over El-Sayed.

Speaking at a Stevens campaign event Friday, Smith said, “we need someone that can represent all of us, not just one race but all races.”

Referring to El-Sayed, she added, “The other candidate … doesn’t work a room.”

“You have to know how to work the room, don’t come out speaking only Arabic, don’t come out with your Arabic music on. Represent everyone.”

The event also featured appearances by Whitmer and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.

El-Sayed's campaign has also drawn attention because of several supporters and associates.

Among those who have publicly supported El-Sayed are political commentator Hasan Piker and longtime socialist activist Tom Burke.

Fox News has also reported that Iraqi-American activist Anas Shallal hosted a fundraiser for El-Sayed. According to the report, Shallal's social media accounts contain posts expressing support for Cuba, the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, the Free Palestine movement, Colin Kaepernick, Zohran Mamdani, and Assata Shakur.

Fox News also reported that El-Sayed received $800 in campaign contributions in 2017 from Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi of the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights and has appeared in online photographs with the imam.

According to the report, Ali Elahi later held memorial services for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following U.S. military strikes that killed the Grand Ayatollah on Feb. 28.

Fox News reported that Ali Elahi described the strike on “our leader” as “evil,” carried out by “the most wretched hands on Earth.”

Religion has also become part of campaign discussions within Michigan's Muslim community.

On July 17, an imam speaking at the American Muslim Diversity Association Masjid in Sterling Heights encouraged congregants to participate in the election while discussing what he described as “a legitimate Islamic objective.”

“When Allah will help you with your intention, the change will come,” the imam said in video highlighted by the Middle East Media Research Institute.

“We know that Rashida Tlaib – she is a sister … she’s representing us in Congress.”

He continued, “So we have a lot of things coming in our side, the tide is changing, we need to take advantage of that and get involved.”

“Abdul El-Sayed, if he gets elected, he’s going to be the first (Muslim) U.S. senator in the history of the United States.”

The imam also referenced the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America.

“They recommend to vote to serve a legitimate Islamic objective.”

“This is the fatwa from AMJA.”

The Real MOU: What Trump’s Iran Agreement Actually Says – Truth Thursday | EP 677

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.