This is apropos a letter to the Editor titled ‘From Mamdani to El-Sayed: reshaping America’s politics’ carried by the newspaper on Thursday and yesterday. Both men have been notably open about their Muslim faith. However, sincerity of belief is ultimately personal and cannot be scientifically measured by journalists or political opponents. What can be examined is consistency.
Neither candidate hid his Muslim identity when it became politically inconvenient. Both discussed how faith influenced their understanding of justice, economic inequality and public service. Their campaigns did not present Islam as a demand for special treatment; rather, they situated Muslim identity within the broader American principles of equality, dignity and constitutional citizenship.
This openness became more important because both faced opposition connected to their criticism of Israeli government policies. Mamdani was attacked over his views on Palestinian rights, while El-Sayed called for ending American military assistance to Israel and described the destruction in Gaza as genocide. AIPAC and aligned organizations became deeply involved in the Michigan primary.
Reports estimated that pro-Stevens and anti-El-Sayed outside spending reached tens of millions of dollars, making the contest one of the most expensive Democratic primaries in American history. Rather than retreating, El-Sayed used the intervention to argue that Michigan’s political choices should not be controlled by billionaires or outside lobbying organizations.
Nevertheless, it would be inaccurate to say that all Democrats and Republicans united against either candidate. Mamdani received substantial support from progressive Democrats, democratic socialists, trade-union members, young voters and immigrant communities.
El-Sayed was endorsed by national progressive figures, including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Their victories were rebellions against particular party establishments, not victories achieved entirely without political allies.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
The writer is a former Press Secretary to the President, An ex-Press Minister at Embassy of Pakistan to France, a former MD, SRBC Macomb, Detroit, Michigan