Former Hawley Aide Challenges Muslim Senate Candidate, Father's Firm Received Anti-El-Sayed Funds

On Saturday, October 17, 2026, Thomas Teepell, a former aide to Republican Senator Josh Hawley, publicly questioned Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a town hall in Caro, Michigan[1]. Teepell demanded El-Sayed “disavow the Muslim Brotherhood”[1]. Federal Election Commission records show that weeks prior, Teepell's father's firm received $250,000 for work opposing El-Sayed[9].

This incident places religious identity at the center of the Michigan Senate race, raising concerns about “dual loyalty” accusations and echoing historical religious bias against candidates[1][2][4]. It also highlights how public confrontations can become major campaign flashpoints, drawing scrutiny to political financing and coordination[9].

What the records show

LegiStorm records confirm Thomas Teepell's employment history, showing he worked for Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) from May 2023 to February 2026[5]. He served as an intern, Staff Assistant, Executive Assistant, and Operations Director[5]. After leaving Hawley's office, Teepell became Political Director for Philip Sarnecki's Kansas gubernatorial campaign, which concluded when Sarnecki lost the Republican primary on August 4, 2026[1][5]. Thomas Teepell is the son of Republican strategist Timmy Teepell, who has advised Senator Hawley and former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal[1][9]. Federal Election Commission records show Timmy Teepell's firm, Breakthrough LLC, received $250,000 from conservative nonprofit America Next on September 29, 2026[9]. This payment was for “canvassing and influencer marketing opposing El-Sayed”[9]. Abdul El-Sayed, a 41-year-old epidemiologist and academic, is the Democratic nominee for the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Michigan, having won his primary on August 4, 2026[12][13].

The timeline

Thomas Teepell began working for Senator Josh Hawley in May 2023, advancing to Operations Director by February 2025[5]. He then worked on the Sarnecki gubernatorial campaign until August 2026[1][5]. Abdul El-Sayed launched his U.S. Senate campaign in April 2025 and secured the Democratic nomination on August 4, 2026[12]. Timmy Teepell's firm received the $250,000 payment from America Next on September 29, 2026[9]. The confrontation between Thomas Teepell and El-Sayed occurred on October 17, 2026, in Caro, Michigan, and a video of the exchange quickly went viral[1][3][16].

What changed and for whom

The confrontation quickly became a significant focus in the Michigan Senate race[1]. El-Sayed's Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, subsequently claimed El-Sayed had not sufficiently disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood[4]. CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford initially praised Teepell's questioning on social media, describing El-Sayed's response as a “spectacular self-own”[15]. Crawford later apologized after facing accusations of endorsing a “partisan and anti-Muslim line of attack”[14][15]. The incident highlighted what El-Sayed described as “bigoted questions” and “dual loyalty” accusations tied to his Muslim faith[1].

What the subject has said publicly

At the town hall, Thomas Teepell, introducing himself as “Tommy,” asked El-Sayed, “Will you disavow the Muslim Brotherhood?”[1][14]. Teepell stated he asked because he considered the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and had not heard El-Sayed condemn it[2]. When El-Sayed asked Teepell if he would disavow any attempt to introduce religious doctrine into U.S. law, Teepell refused[1][3].

El-Sayed responded to Teepell's initial question with, “Sure. Yeah, absolutely,” then challenged the premise, asking, “What are you implying? Do you assume that I wouldn't?”[1][3][14]. El-Sayed argued the question implied “dual loyalties” due to his Muslim faith, drawing a comparison to the religious scrutiny faced by former President John F. Kennedy[1][2]. El-Sayed stated his allegiance was to the U.S. Constitution and, echoing Kennedy, emphasized he was “not running to be a Muslim senator” but “running for U.S. Senate and happen to be Muslim”[2][4]. Following Teepell's refusal to disavow religious doctrine in law, El-Sayed told Teepell he needed to understand the Constitution[1][3].

What we could not confirm

PrimaryBrief could not confirm if Thomas Teepell received personal payment for confronting Abdul El-Sayed at the town hall[9].