Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan’s Senate race on Tuesday to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, opened his victory speech in Detroit by introducing himself by his full Arabic name.
“My name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed and I am so proud and honored to stand here as your senator-elect,” he told supporters early Wednesday morning.
He then noted that during the campaign he had always said “Inshallah,” God willing, when asked about the outcome. Tonight, he said, that could become “Alhamdulillah,” praise be to God.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance had repeatedly mocked El-Sayed’s name during the campaign. Turning to Vance, El-Sayed said the vice president is constitutionally obligated to swear him in come January.
The speech also took aim at Israel. “We don’t want our money sent to do apartheid, or genocide, or war,” El-Sayed said, and he thanked AIPAC, which he said spent $42 million against him, for the chance to beat it twice.
El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
