Thank you for the feedback. That's why I wrote this. I'm looking for clarity. I did a lot of research and one thing is clear. El-Sayed states emphatically that he is not a socialist. So he certainly is not a communist. As you probably know one can be a socialist and not be a communist, but one cannot be a communist and not be a socialist. He is neither (as described in this New Yorker article) https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-new-yorker-interview/abdul-el-sayeds-argument-for-america-and-against-his-own-party

Democratic socialists seem to hold a variety of opinions...some way out of the mainstream and some simply a version of liberal progressivism. As described in this Maryland Matters commentary. https://marylandmatters.org/2026/07/31/a-voters-guide-to-democratic-socialism-it-isnt-what-most-people-think/

I know he is a Muslim. I'm not sure what an Islamist is, although I just looked it up and according to several sites an Islamist believes that Islam should influence public policy. This is not the case with El-Sayed. As described in this RealClear Politics site: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/abdul-el-sayed-jewish-people-130000129.html. He is opposed to supporting ethno-states of any kind. He includes in that support sent to Egypt (his family comes from Egypt).

He expresses admiration for the Jewish people and equates antisemitism with Islamophobia--both discriminatory positions equally abhorrent.

I don't know how sincere El-Sayed's statements are. I can only judge his policy positions as he describes them and then judge his behavior. I dismiss what other sources say about him, unless I check out their 'facts'. These sources may be misinformed or may have their own agenda.

I do my research. I look in more than one place (many places). I try to consult legitimate sources. I could be wrong. It's happened in the past (I actually gave money to the Edwards' presidential campaign years ago). All I can do is read, think and be responsible.

My political goals correspond pretty closely to my personal values. I want fairness, equity, personal freedom. How to get there....well, that's the challenge, isn't it.