CNN poll has El-Sayed leading Rogers 49% to 42% in Michigan Senate race

A CNN poll released Thursday found 49 percent of Michigan respondents backing or leaning toward Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and 42 percent backing Republican Mike Rogers, The Hill reports. Five percent said they backed neither. Fox News says the same CNN poll has Democrats ahead in Senate races in Texas, Michigan, Maine and Kansas, with Maine and Kansas very close.

CBS News reports that 1.2 million early votes have already been cast in Michigan. It says El-Sayed is trying to get as many Democrats to the polls as possible.

The poll follows a run of attacks on El-Sayed from Republicans. The Guardian reports that Vice President JD Vance tried to link El-Sayed to protests in Paris and claimed he would lead rioters in "burning down" Detroit. CBS News reports Rogers repeated claims about a Muslim Brotherhood connection. CBS gave no detail on those claims.

At a Sunday rally in Michigan, President Trump intensified anti-Muslim remarks about El-Sayed, according to NPR, The Guardian, The Hill and Al Jazeera. NPR and The Guardian say he portrayed El-Sayed as a threat to national security. NPR says he questioned El-Sayed's loyalty to the United States. The Guardian reports Trump has called him a "jihadist" and that Trump was condemned for the remarks.

El-Sayed responded Sunday. The Hill reports he told supporters that Trump would be calling him "Senator Muhammad" if he wins. If elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim senator in U.S. history, according to The Hill, France 24 and The Guardian. The Hill also reports his allies argue the attacks will backfire.