Democratic Senate candidate Abdul-Sayed takes the stage in Michigan to declare victory. CBS News has yet to predict a winner in this race, and although the Democrats are assessed as the likely winner, the race remains tight.
“Michigan, we did it!” El-Sayed said.
He said he was “extremely proud and honored” to be their elected senator. If El-Sayed defeats Republican Mike Rogers, he will become the first Muslim American to serve in the U.S. Senate.
“You gave the most unlikely candidate a chance, so thank you,” he said. “This is all yours.”
He thanked constituents for inviting him to their churches, synagogues and homes.
“Thank you for your trust, faith and goodwill,” he said. “I’m going to take that with me and I hope to bring back that leadership that deserves it.”
El-Sayed said his opponents not only target and attack him, “they target and attack you.”
“They want an America that’s too small for some of us. We know America is big enough for all of us,” he said.
This is a tough game. Said’s fierce criticism of the Israeli government has been met with fierce resistance from Republicans and some moderate Democrats in both the primaries and the general election, and President Trump has often made inflammatory remarks about Saied, calling him “Mohammed” and saying he should be forced to go through metal detectors. He noted that pain in a speech earlier Wednesday.
“So Mike, have a great retirement!” El-Sayed said, telling him to enjoy his yacht.
“You chose hate, and Michigan chose hope,” he said. “May we never see anyone like you in this state again.”
“JD, Habibie, it’s a wonderful irony because you’re constitutionally obligated to be sworn in in January,” he said, before nodding to Vice President J.D. Vance’s Ohio roots. “So you know what that means: Wolverine One, Buckeye Zero!”
“Donald, look, I know you’ve been worrying about my name,” he said. “So after JD is sworn in in January, you can continue to call me Senator.”
“To the super PACs and special interests who are trying to defeat us, we are here to support your political system,” he said. “To AIPAC who spent $42 million fighting us, thank you for giving me two chances to defeat you.”