Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El Sayed recently appeared on rapper Vic Mensa’s podcast, where he bench pressed 255 to 265 pounds while engaging in playful banter about strength and fitness.
MMA analyst Luke Thomas expressed skepticism about the strategy despite supporting El Sayed’s candidacy.
“One big mistake that everyone on the left makes is that they try to perform masculinity on the terms that the right sets,” Thomas said. “You really can’t win that battle. You can’t beat them at their own game.”
Thomas acknowledged that El Sayed “certainly lifts weights better than Pete Hegseth, which is a low bar,” but argued that attempting to compete on masculinity metrics established by conservative voices represents a losing proposition for progressive candidates.
However, Thomas drew a distinction between what he views as performative displays and El Sayed’s genuine engagement with fitness communities. He noted that El Sayed wrestled and played football in high school and authentically maintains a workout routine.
“The more interesting angle to the story is when he does these lifting videos with podcasters,” Thomas explained. The fitness community, which he described as “pretty right wing or at least center right at a bare minimum,” provides El Sayed access to audiences who might not otherwise hear progressive messaging.
The question of how Democratic candidates should navigate masculinity in politics extends beyond El Sayed. Thomas stated, “So I think there’s huge value in that, but just performing masculinity for the right to me is a fool’s errand that will end nowhere.”
Texas Representative James Talarico who faces attacks questioning his manhood from political opponents, has taken a different approach. He stated that he doesn’t have that particular insecurity and prefers to focus on policy and representation.
Thomas emphasized that the strategy of appearing on non-political podcasts has proven effective for reaching voters, particularly young men who historically show low turnout rates. Following the 2024 election, Democrats have studied how Republicans successfully generated organic engagement on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
