“It’s funny cause, like, if we win, this is gonna be, like, the summer home.”
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A resurfaced clip from a 2020 documentary shows Michigan Democratic Senate primary winner Abdul El-Sayed saying he “hates Mackinac so much” while visiting the island during his 2018 campaign for governor. He lost that bid before aiming to represent the state at the federal level.
The footage comes from the documentary “How To Fix A Primary,” which followed El-Sayed’s unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign. In the scene, El-Sayed can be seen walking toward the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan as one of the island’s iconic horse-drawn carriages pass by.
“I hate Mackinac so much,” El-Sayed says in the video. He then references the island’s being the governor’s official summer residence, joking about what would happen if he won the governorship. “It’s funny cause, like, if we win, this is gonna be, like, the summer home,” El-Sayed says.
“I’m just gonna be like every time I’ve ever come here, I’ve hated it. Why am I here,” he continues while laughing.
The governor’s summer residence, located on Mackinac Island, has served as a retreat for Michigan governors and a location for hosting political and government officials for decades.
Mackinac Island has long been a gathering place for Michigan political and business leaders, including through events such as the Detroit Regional Chamber Policy Conference, which brings together lawmakers, executives, and other state figures.
El-Sayed attended the conference in May, where he appeared alongside members of Michigan’s political and corporate communities.
In 2025, Mackinac Island was named the Best Summer Travel Destination by USA Today readers. The island is known for its historic architecture, horse-drawn carriages, fudge, and ban on regular automobile traffic.
