Bruce Springsteen has endorsed Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate in Michigan's U.S. Senate race, ahead of Election Day.
El-Sayed faces Republican nominee Mike Rogers in this year's midterms. If elected, he would become the first Muslim senator in U.S. history. His religious background has made him a target of political attacks from President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and their MAGA supporters.
A progressive Democrat, El-Sayed has drawn support from former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris and a number of Hollywood celebrities.
Springsteen announced his endorsement in an Instagram post. "Dr. El-Sayed is a fighter for our American Constitution, he's a fighter for our American Democracy, and he's a fighter against the corrupt, lawless, and anti-American leadership currently in the White House," he wrote. "That's why I'm in his corner 100%."
The musician has been an outspoken critic of Trump and Republicans for years. In this summer's PBS special "Bruce Springsteen: Finding America in Song," he said: "I believe in critical patriotism. I believe that's the definition of a patriot, you know, that you love your country so much that you are willing to look at it clearly, recognize its faults, encourage it to be a better place, and believe that you carry in your heart the country that is waiting."
Springsteen is not the only entertainer campaigning for El-Sayed. "Nobody Wants This" star Adam Brody has also publicly backed the candidate and appeared in a video supporting him.
"I'm here with Swing Left's Ground Truth helping to elect Abdul to the Senate, and win back the House," Brody said in the video. He added that he wants "Medicare for all" and to keep "money out of politics. I would like that too."
