Democrat Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Seat, Takes Aim at Vice President and President in Victory Speech
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Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim U.S. senator after defeating Republican Mike Rogers, using his victory speech to call out the cruelty and absurdity of the political establishment, including Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed secured a U.S. Senate seat from Michigan, defeating Republican Mike Rogers in a race that made him the first Muslim elected to the chamber and a symbol of the state’s growing appetite for bold, people-centered politics. In his acceptance speech, El-Sayed addressed Vice President JD Vance, pointing to the "delicious irony" that the vice president is constitutionally required to administer his oath of office in January.
"JD, Habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in, in January," he said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
El-Sayed also referenced President Donald Trump, noting the president’s repeated difficulty with his name and inviting Trump to call him "Senator" after the swearing-in ceremony.
The newly elected senator thanked Michigan voters for backing what he described as an "unlikely" candidate and underscored how Republican campaign attacks on his name and faith did nothing to address the real economic pain facing families, including rising gas prices.
El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants and a former public health officer, previously ran for governor in 2018 and earned endorsements from progressive figures such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. His victory highlights how progressive, multiracial coalitions can break through even in swing states when voters are offered a message rooted in dignity, fairness, and material change.