Image source, Getty ImagesIn a race fuelled by withering attacks and inter-party disputes, left-wing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won a key Senate seat in the battleground state of Michigan.
El-Sayed bested Republican Mike Rogers, withstanding an onslaught of attacks that included baselessly tying him to terrorism and a high-profile spat with a fellow Democrat. He will be the first Muslim senator in US history.
Rogers, backed by President Donald Trump, portrayed El-Sayed as a communist, criticising his stance on Israel and his Muslim faith.
After waiting long hours, watching democratic gains across the country, El-Sayed’s supporters went wild when he took the stage to celebrate his victory.
Watch: Key moments from the US midterm election results
The former public health administrator campaigned on a left-wing platform that included universal health care and a wealth tax on billionaires.
The win comes days after El-Sayed’s Democratic primary rival, Haley Stevens, endorsed Rogers, the Republican candidate, just days before the election.
El-Sayed’s supporters gave deafening cheers when he took to the stage, as they chanted his name in jubilation. A sea of iPhones were held up to take in this moment of history – a Muslim man elected to the Senate.
Several people in the crowd embraced, filled with emotion. They repeated his slogan back to him like they were at a concert: “Money out of politics, money in your pocket and Medicare for all.”
On the campaign trail, El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and called for an end to US aid to the country.
The issue carries particular resonance in Michigan, which is home to the second largest Arab-American population in the US.
It also fuelled tensions between El-Sayed and Stevens, a staunch supporter of Israel, whose primary campaign received millions of dollars in backing from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac).
The contest was widely seen as a test of the political influence of the Democratic left in a key battleground state, following a series of primary wins by democratic socialist candidates in more politically favoured districts.
El-Sayed thanked the crowd in the early hours of Wednesday morning for taking a chance on “the unlikeliest of candidates”, saying his win was theirs. He told the crowd the campaign against him had been one of the ugliest seen in their lifetime.
Supporters ‘proud’ of win
This is a milestone for Muslim Americans who had to watch, along with their children, as El-Sayed was attacked with increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric, including directly from the president of the United States. It comes at a time of rising in Islamophobia nationwide.
Roula Allouch, an Arab American Muslim, told the BBC she had goosebumps from the success of the campaign.
“I’m proud of Abdul, the campaign that he ran, his family for their perseverance through all the hate, the Islamophobic rhetoric that was thrown at him throughout this campaign,” she said.
Another Muslim woman in the crowd was equally moved and told the BBC his win meant everything to her.
“He makes us so proud and it just makes us feel like we can stand a little taller, broaden our shoulders and know somebody has our back and that he’s going to be in Washington really fighting for us,” she said.
El-Sayed has certainly shown on the campaign trail that he’s willing to hit back at Maga attacks. In his victory speech, he used the Arabic phrase “Alhamdullah”, and then trolled Republicans by saying that “for the rightwing ops, that just means praise be to God”.
El-Sayed, 42, represents a generation of Arab Americans and Muslims who were born in the United States to immigrant parents and grew up in post-9/11 America.
Celebrating with family from Chicago, another South Asian Muslim supporter of El-Sayed’s said the moment was historic for everyone who has been made to feel that they don’t belong in America or have a place in politics.
“If someone with the name of Abdul can make it, that means this next generation can look up and say that they can too,” she told the BBC.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images‘One of the tightest races’
The Michigan Senate seat, previously held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters, was considered by analysts to be one of the tightest races in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
El-Sayed’s win further cements Democrats’ control of the US Senate after a wave of wins – including in deep-Republican areas.
He had to contend with massive outside spending heavily favouring Rogers and his opponent in the Democratic primary, Haley Stevens. He’s been unapologetic and unwavering in his stances.
In presidential elections, Michigan is one of the crucial swing states – the state voted for Joe Biden in 2020 but Donald Trump in 2024.
Many had questioned whether Stevens’ last-minute endorsement of Rogers would make a difference in the race.
Democratic leadership called it “a despicable betrayal” and her staff reportedly resigned in mass. Voters who spoke with the BBC in the state said they were confused over the move, with some questioning whether the congresswoman was acting out of anger.
El-Sayed attempted to ignore the dramatic turn, telling reporters that he doesn’t “think about Haley Stevens” and “none of this matters”.
Throughout his campaign, El-Sayed has channelled grassroots frustration with Washington politics as well as US ties to Israel. He took on money in politics and argued against Trump’s policies, which he blamed for raising costs for voters in the state.
He campaigned with left-wing leaders Sen Bernie Sanders and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Related topics
Left-wing Democrats are on a winning run – but can they lure back crucial swing voters?
Democrat Stevens defends endorsement switch to Republican Rogers two days before election
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