Abdul El-Sayed Claims Michigan Senate Win, Taunts AIPAC

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed claimed victory in Michigan's Senate race and used his speech to take direct aim at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He thanked AIPAC "for the opportunity to beat you twice" and told supporters that American tax dollars should not be sent "to do apartheid or a genocidal war."

Arutz Sheva reported that El-Sayed delivered the speech at his election-night watch party in Detroit. He opened with the words: "We did it. We can turn Inshallah into Alhamdulila."

"To AIPAC, who spent 42 million to beat us, thank you for the opportunity to beat you twice," El-Sayed said.

He then turned to American aid. "We want our tax dollars spent here for schools and healthcare and infrastructure here," he declared. "We don't want our money being sent to do apartheid or a genocidal war."

El-Sayed told the crowd that his opponents had run an "astroturf funded campaign" and had targeted his identity. "They pointed at my name and face and faith, and tried to guilt me by association," he said. He also claimed his campaign had overcome "nearly a quarter of a billion dollars of outside spending."

"Trump's insults got uglier by the day, but I spent those days with you," he told supporters. Later in the speech he added: "Donald, I know you struggle with my name, so you can just call me Senator."

"They told us that a Muslim was unelectable. Guess what we just showed them?" El-Sayed said. "It's the people who decide, not the big money or special interest groups."

Earlier on election night, El-Sayed held a lead over Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. At that stage, the Associated Press had not called the race.