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WASHINGTON: Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Michigan voters had rejected \u201ca hateful, spiteful campaign\u201d after months of Republican attacks on his Muslim identity in one of the nation\u2019s most closely watched Senate races.<\/p>\n
El-Sayed said he was \u201crunning on adrenaline and caffeine\u201d after his race with Republican Mike Rogers was called early Wednesday, giving Democrats another significant victory in a premier swing state as they won a substantial majority in the Senate in Tuesday\u2019s midterms.<\/p>\n
Throughout the cycle, Republicans sought to demonize El-Sayed, who was born in the US after his parents immigrated from Egypt. President Donald Trump repeatedly called him a \u201cjihadist\u201d who was \u201con the side of the terrorists.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMichigan proved just how big we are. Rejected a hateful, spiteful campaign that had nothing to say about the issues and only wanted to point to my name and my face,\u201d El-Sayed said. \u201cMichiganders rejected that. Every single county, every single one, pushed against that.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a sign of how combative the race had become, Rogers and El-Sayed had not spoken as of Wednesday afternoon, even after Rogers issued a statement conceding the race. In 2024, Rogers called then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin to concede on Wednesday morning, before the AP had even called the race.<\/p>\n
El-Sayed, who will become the nation\u2019s first Muslim senator, told the AP by phone that the morning was \u201ca moment of reflection,\u201d including about what his victory would mean to his two young daughters. His 3-year-old, he said, has no idea what happened, while his 8-year-old understands but sees it as normal.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, this is something they read about in the history books,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
With approximately 97 percent of the vote in, El-Sayed held a 7 percentage point lead over Rogers. Every county in the state shifted toward Democrats compared with 2024, according to AP voting data.<\/p>\n
The AP Voter Poll, an expansive survey of more than 4,500 voters in Michigan, showed that Michigan Senate voters were roughly split on whether El-Sayed\u2019s views were \u201ctoo extreme,\u201d with about half saying they were.<\/p>\n
El-Sayed rose from a double-digit defeat eight years ago in the state\u2019s Democratic gubernatorial election to an upset victory of an establishment-backed candidate in the primary after being outspent by tens of millions. He said his campaign proved that \u201cold-fashioned politics can work if you\u2019re willing to do the work.\u201d<\/p>\n
El-Sayed quickly pivoted, though, toward the future, saying his victory is \u201cnot the success\u201d and that \u201cthe success is what you\u2019re able to do with the seat.\u201d<\/p>\n
He would not commit to supporting Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for another term, saying he did not yet know who else might run. Schumer is expected to retain the leadership position.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do believe we need new leadership and I think people are hungry for it,\u201d El-Sayed added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n