The father of War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Brian Hegseth, has responded to comments made by Michigan Senate Democratic nominee Abdul el Sayed about his son's athletic career. El Sayed had discussed Hegseth's athletic background on a podcast, suggesting that he was not a skilled athlete and that his parents had overly supported him.
Brian Hegseth countered that his son was actually a star basketball player in high school, earning all-conference and all-state honors, and that their family's support was normal and loving. Brian Hegseth accused el Sayed of having "little man syndrome" and being motivated by envy, saying that el Sayed "has no idea what he's talking about" when it comes to Hegseth's athletic career.
The exchange is part of a larger theme of sports and athletic prowess that has emerged in the Michigan Senate race, with both el Sayed and his Republican opponent Mike Rogers highlighting their own athletic backgrounds. The Michigan Senate race is one of the most high-profile matchups in the country, with the winner potentially deciding which party controls the Senate.
According to the latest RealClearPolitics polling average, el Sayed currently holds a slight edge over Rogers ahead of the midterm elections. The race has become increasingly heated, with el Sayed recently asking another politician, Haley Stevens, to stay away from his campaign events.
The election is set to take place on Tuesday.