Michigan Dem El-Sayed Flaunts Pastor Backing Despite Farrakhan Praise and Termite Slur Firestorm

Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is highlighting the endorsement of Detroit pastor and radio host Horace Sheffield III as his campaign continues, while renewed attention has focused on Sheffield’s past public praise for Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, as reported by Fox News.

Sheffield endorsed El-Sayed during a radio broadcast in November 2025. Following the endorsement, El-Sayed’s campaign issued a news release announcing the support, with the candidate describing himself as “deeply honored” to receive Sheffield’s backing.

The endorsement has drawn additional scrutiny because of remarks Sheffield made during a 2013 gathering of religious leaders where he introduced Farrakhan. During that event, Sheffield praised Farrakhan’s leadership while arguing that criticism of the Nation of Islam minister was unfair.

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is touting the endorsement of Detroit pastor Horace Sheffield III. Sheffield once praised Louis Farrakhan as a leader who could “give us direction” and accused the establishment of trying to silence the Nation of Islam minister.… pic.twitter.com/eGi8ttFoYv

— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) August 4, 2026

“We need someone to give us direction. I believe we have a leader here that can organize us,” Sheffield said, referring to Farrakhan, according to a media outlet founded by Farrakhan.

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Before and after Sheffield’s remarks, Farrakhan made a series of public statements over several decades that generated widespread criticism for antisemitic and racist rhetoric.

In 1996, Farrakhan accused Jews of being “wicked deceivers of the American people” who have “sucked their blood.” The following year, he said that “people will never be free in this country” until they were liberated from what he described as the “tremendous amount of influence” Jews exert over the American government.

In February 2012, shortly before Sheffield’s introduction of Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader stated that “Jews are the most violent of people.”

Farrakhan also made remarks describing White people as “the skunk of the planet earth” and suggested that Europeans are not yet fully evolved human beings.

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During his 2013 introduction, Sheffield defended Farrakhan and suggested he was being unfairly targeted.

“They want to silence people who tell us the truth, and we know why this is happening and who is doing it, but we need some help with how to overcome it,” Sheffield said.

In 2018, Farrakhan again drew criticism after referring to Jews as “termites.”

Despite the controversy surrounding Farrakhan’s statements, El-Sayed’s campaign has maintained a working relationship with Sheffield.

In June, Sheffield visited El-Sayed’s campaign headquarters to record a promotional video supporting the candidate.

According to a report by the Washington Free Beacon, El-Sayed’s campaign also paid a nonprofit organization operated by Sheffield $75,000 in consulting fees between October 2025 and June 2026.

Sheffield previously faced scrutiny in 2018 when his radio station suspended him after he endorsed Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar’s unsuccessful campaign for Michigan governor while receiving tens of thousands of dollars in consulting payments from Thanedar, according to the Free Beacon.

Political observers have noted that Sheffield’s endorsement could become an issue during the Senate campaign because of his past comments regarding Farrakhan. At the same time, the endorsement could help El-Sayed among some Black voters in Detroit, a voting bloc where the candidate has sought to expand his support.

After receiving Sheffield’s endorsement last year, El-Sayed released a statement thanking the pastor.

“I’m deeply honored to have Rev. Sheffield’s support. His lifelong commitment to justice, faith, and service embodies the very best of Detroit,” El-Sayed said.

“We’re building a coalition that believes politics should be about people, and together we’ll fight to deliver dignity, opportunity, and equity for every Michigander.”

Fox News Digital reported that representatives for both El-Sayed and Sheffield did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.

The endorsement and the campaign’s financial relationship with Sheffield have become part of the broader discussion surrounding Michigan’s U.S. Senate race as candidates continue campaigning ahead of the election.

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