The Dispute Index
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2026 Midterm Elections

Public disputes concerning the 2026 U.S. midterm election cycle, including campaigns, candidates, conventions, advertising, endorsements, and election-related policy promises.

Related cases

Case

Abdul El-Sayed's cycle of violence framing after the Temple Israel attack

After an armed assailant attacked Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed condemned the attack and antisemitism but connected the assailant's actions to an Israeli airstrike that killed members of his family, describing violence as a cycle. Critics said the framing rationalized an antisemitic terrorist attack or shifted responsibility toward Israel and Jews. El-Sayed denied justifying the attack and later apologized for introducing context when the victims needed an unqualified condemnation.

Statements

Abdul El-Sayed

Role at the time: U.S. Senate candidate and former Wayne County health director

Condemned

Responding to

Hasan Piker’s remarks about American Jews, Israel, and antisemitic violence

"Antisemitism is a scourge, and we need to address it in all its forms."
Why we used this label

El-Sayed condemns antisemitism and rejects rhetoric that endangers the Jewish community.

Here's What Hasan Piker Said And Why It's So Controversial (opens in a new tab)
Read statementHasan Piker’s remarks about American Jews, Israel, and antisemitic violence

Jon Ossoff

Role at the time: United States senator and reelection candidate

Condemned

Responding to

Jon Ossoff’s travel with Natalie remark about Donald Trump and Natalie Harp

"He doesn’t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar."
Why we used this label

Ossoffs statement directly criticizes Trump conduct and the reported travel arrangement.

Scandal piñata — Jon Ossoff Atlanta rally transcript (opens in a new tab)Paragraph beginning “He doesn’t want to do the job”
Read statementJon Ossoff’s travel with Natalie remark about Donald Trump and Natalie Harp

Jon Ossoff

Role at the time: United States senator from Georgia and Democratic candidate for reelection

Condemned

Responding to

Did Mike Collins support compensation for January 6 defendants?

"“Congressman Collins needs to immediately come out and publicly retract his support for these taxpayer-funded payouts to violent insurrectionists.”"
Why we used this label

Ossoff directly characterizes Collins’s answer as endorsement of payments to violent insurrectionists and calls it unacceptable.

Ossoff campaign calls on Collins to retract January 6 compensation support (opens in a new tab)August 12, 2026 press release and linked virtual press conference
Read statementDid Mike Collins support compensation for January 6 defendants?

Scott Jennings

Role at the time: Republican political strategist and CNN political commentator

Condemned

Responding to

El-Sayed's cycle-of-violence framing rationalized the antisemitic attack or improperly shifted explanatory responsibility toward Israel and Jews.

"That's how you would justify any and all political violence. That is a dangerous mindset."
Why we used this label

The statement directly rejects the explanation-versus-justification distinction at the center of the dispute.

Scott Jennings Podcast — Radical Left Lunacy (opens in a new tab)01:02:50
Read statementAbdul El-Sayed's cycle of violence framing after the Temple Israel attack

Jon Ossoff

Role at the time: Jon Ossoff U.S. Senate campaign

Condemned

Responding to

Did Jon Ossoff’s Social Security ad fairly represent Mike Collins’s radio interview?

"“He wants to push you off Social Security.”"
Why we used this label

The campaign uses the excerpt to make a critical policy characterization of Collins’s position on Social Security.

FactCheck.org review of Ossoff’s Social Security advertisement and campaign responses (opens in a new tab)Ossoff advertisement, full radio quotation, and campaign responses
Read statementDid Jon Ossoff’s Social Security ad fairly represent Mike Collins’s radio interview?

Tim Miller

Role at the time: Host of The Bulwark Podcast

Condemned

Responding to

El-Sayed's cycle-of-violence framing rationalized the antisemitic attack or improperly shifted explanatory responsibility toward Israel and Jews.

"Anyone who would think a statement condemning a terorrist attack on a synagogue is a 'risk' is insane and should be fired from the campaign."
Why we used this label

The authored post directly rejects the political hesitation surrounding condemnation of the attack.

Archived Tim Miller reaction to El-Sayed's Temple Israel response (opens in a new tab)
Read statementAbdul El-Sayed's cycle of violence framing after the Temple Israel attack

Mike Rogers

Role at the time: Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan

Condemned

Responding to

El-Sayed's cycle-of-violence framing rationalized the antisemitic attack or improperly shifted explanatory responsibility toward Israel and Jews.

"If you're having a moral crisis over whether to condemn terrorism, you're unfit for office."
Why we used this label

The statement treats El-Sayed's contextualization as disqualifying sympathy for the assailant.

Abdul El-Sayed calls statement on Temple Israel attack a risk (opens in a new tab)Full report
Read statementAbdul El-Sayed's cycle of violence framing after the Temple Israel attack

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