Now that he has won the Democratic Senate nomination in Michigan, progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is moving into the general election and sharply attacking his Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI).

El-Sayed, an Egyptian-American former public health director in Detroit, criticized the GOP for scaremongering about him by using his full name, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, in attack ads. The exchange underscores how quickly the race is shifting from primary politics to a broader fall campaign, with both parties now trying to define their nominee before voters focus in on the general election.

“They think they want to use my whole name against me,” El-Sayed said. “Mike, listen man, if you can't say the name — it's Abdulrahman — keep the name out [of] your d--- mouth.”

El-Sayed then challenged Rogers to a series of debates and made a reference to the recent controversy over Rogers possibly living in Florida rather than Michigan, a line aimed at reinforcing questions about where the Republican candidate is rooted as the contest gets underway.

“Mike, I'm gonna say it right now, I know you're gonna say no because you're a coward: Five debates, alright?” El-Sayed said. “If you're willing to stand with me and have a conversation, you and I both know that you will wither in front of your own crimes. But I'm gonna make sure Michiganders know about them. By the time we're done, you are not gonna have safe harbor from people holding you accountable for what you've done for them here in Michigan.”

“We will send you back to Florida where you belong,” he added.