El-Sayed and Sky News Reporter Clash on Election Day

Abdul El-Sayed’s Election Day exchange with Sky News correspondent James Matthews drew attention after video showed the Michigan Senate candidate questioning Matthews’ right to ask him questions, touching his shoulders and telling him to stop following him. Matthews denied that he was chasing El-Sayed. The encounter took place on November 3, as El-Sayed went on to defeat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race. In the recorded exchange, El-Sayed asked Matthews whether he was registered to vote in Michigan. When Matthews said he was not, El-Sayed questioned why he should speak with him and challenged the relevance of a British news organization’s audience to his campaign. Matthews said he was based in the United States and that the election mattered internationally. El-Sayed replied that he was not seeking votes in the United Kingdom and disputed Matthews’ description of the organization’s audience. As the conversation continued, El-Sayed placed both hands on Matthews’ shoulders twice and asked him to stop chasing him. Matthews responded that he was asking questions, not pursuing him. The video documents the exchange and the shoulder contact, but does not establish...