Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed compared gender transition surgery for minors to circumcision, creating a new controversy as Democrats struggle to clarify their stance on transgender procedures for children.

El Sayed, the left-wing Democrat running against Republican Mike Rogers in a tightly contested race for Senate in November, made the comment comparing so-called “gender affirming” penile surgery to circumcision during a heated interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters on Monday night.