Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat, first Muslim elected

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 5 Nov, 18:10 · Archive

Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, winning the Michigan race against Republican Mike Rogers.

Abdul El-Sayed has been elected to the US Senate for Michigan, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. He will become the nation's first Muslim senator. The race was called early Wednesday, giving Democrats another significant victory in the swing state as they won a substantial majority in the Senate.

Throughout the campaign, Republicans sought to demonize El-Sayed, who was born in the United States after his parents immigrated from Egypt. President Donald Trump repeatedly called him a 'jihadist' who was 'on the side of the terrorists'. Some Republicans in Congress formed a Sharia-Free America Caucus, depicting Islam's religious code as a threat to the US Constitution.

El-Sayed said Michigan voters had rejected 'a hateful, spiteful campaign that had nothing to say about the issues and only wanted to point to my name and my face'. 'Michiganders rejected that. Every single county, every single one, pushed against that,' he told the Associated Press. He declared his full name in his victory speech: 'My name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed.'

Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the outcome 'represents a historic turning point for American Muslim political engagement and a historic defeat for the politics of hate'.

Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat, first Muslim elected — Image: Clickorlando

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How it is being reported

‘A beautifully American story’: El-Sayed's historic Senate victory resonates with Muslim AmericansMichigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate — a significant milestone for Muslim Americans.Clickorlando · 5 Nov, 11:29
‘A beautifully American story’: El-Sayed's historic Senate victory resonates with Muslim AmericansMichigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate — a significant milestone for Muslim Americans.News4Jax · 5 Nov, 11:29
El-Sayed tells AP Michigan rejected ‘hateful, spiteful campaign’ after months of Republican attacksMichigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed tells The Associated Press that voters have rejected a “hateful, spiteful campaign” after months of Republican attacks on his Muslim identity.News4Jax · 4 Nov, 19:16
El-Sayed tells AP Michigan rejected ‘hateful, spiteful campaign’ after months of Republican attacksMichigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed tells The Associated Press that voters have rejected a “hateful, spiteful campaign” after months of Republican attacks on his Muslim identity.Clickorlando · 4 Nov, 19:16

In this story: Abdul El-Sayed · Mike Rogers · Donald Trump · Michigan · Council on American-Islamic Relations

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