Michigan state Rep. Karen Whitsett, a Democrat, is publicly breaking with her party’s leftward drift, accusing its democratic socialist wing of taking Black voters for granted and warning constituents against backing U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
“It doesn’t change, it’s just different slave owners,” Whitsett said, arguing that Democratic leaders assume Black voters will support the party’s candidates automatically, regardless of policy.
Whitsett named Al Sharpton and Detroit pastor Horace Sheffield III among those she says are complicit in keeping that dynamic in place. In her fuller remarks, she said:
“You can see the serious divide of the crazy socialist far-left and especially the White women. They are the worst and the most racist that there possibly ever could be. They’re, I think, they’re more racist than the KKK. Are you trying to help the Black community or are you trying to kill it? Are you trying to keep people stupid and ill-informed or what? Because right now I can’t tell, right? Is this voter education or are you just trying to make sure you count your slaves on the plantation.”
Whitsett, who is not seeking reelection, said she believes Black voters are increasingly aware of their political leverage. “I always try to be a voice of reason, and I’m not a go along, get along,” she said. “So, my whole thing is it has to make sense, and I am definitely family over party. God over party is of the utmost importance. So for me, when you point that out to people, it’s just common sense that El-Sayed is not the candidate. There’s just no way. It doesn’t line up. It doesn’t line up Biblically, and it doesn’t line up with common sense.”
El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, is facing separate pushback from Jewish voters in the state. Rabbis and other Jewish leaders recently sent Michigan Democrats a letter listing “nonnegotiables” they say candidates must meet to earn their support, amid concerns that El-Sayed and parts of the party have grown more hostile toward Israel. El-Sayed has also campaigned alongside democratic socialist commentator Hasan Piker, a pairing that has further strained his standing with Jewish voters.
Whitsett has also voiced support for Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, telling voters, “You will lose your health insurance if the other candidate gets in office…that is what Medicare for all means…common sense prevails that Mike Rogers is the candidate for you.”
Whitsett has previously said she felt pushed out of step with the party over issues including LGBTQ policy and abortion, citing her Christian faith as a reason for distancing herself from Democratic leadership.
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