04.11.2026 11:42
Abdul El-Sayed, elected from Michigan as the first Muslim senator in US history, used striking statements in his victory speech. Reminding the audience that he frequently said "Inshallah" while speaking about the possibility of winning throughout the election campaign, El-Sayed addressed his supporters with the words, "Tonight we can turn that Inshallah into Alhamdulillah." The politician's remarks, emphasizing that his full name is Abdurrahman Muhammad El-Sayed, were met with applause in the hall.
In the midterm elections held in the US on November 3, Democratic Party candidate Abdul El-Sayed from Michigan defeated Republican Mike Rogers and became the first Muslim elected to the Senate in the country's history. The Egyptian-origin politician appeared before supporters at an election-night event in Detroit and gave a victory speech. The statements El-Sayed used in his speech drew attention, as he had been targeted with criticism throughout the campaign over his religious identity and name.
"MY NAME IS ABDURRAHMAN MUHAMMED EL-SAYED"
El-Sayed, who took the podium after the election results, began his speech by thanking the people of Michigan.
"Michigan, we did it," said the Democratic politician, addressing the crowd supporting him by stating his full name.
El-Sayed expressed his pride in being Michigan's elected senator, saying, "My name is Abdurrahman Muhammed El-Sayed."
The politician's particular emphasis on his full name recalled Donald Trump's statements targeting him over his name and Muslim identity throughout the election campaign.
"WE CAN TURN 'INSHALLAH' INTO 'ALHAMDULILLAH'"
One of the most notable moments in El-Sayed's speech was his remarks about the religious expressions he used during the election campaign.
The Democratic politician recalled that he often said "Inshallah" when previously speaking about the possibility of winning elections.
After his victory, El-Sayed said, "Tonight we can turn that 'Inshallah' into 'Alhamdulillah.'"
These words were met with applause by his supporters in the hall. El-Sayed thus emphasized that the wish he had expressed throughout the election campaign had come true.
HE HAD RESPONDED TO TRUMP'S REMARKS
US President Donald Trump had made statements during the election campaign targeting El-Sayed over his religious identity.
Trump had described the Democratic candidate as a "jihadist" and leveled accusations that he was linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed rejected these claims.
Trump had also said that if El-Sayed entered the Senate, he should be subjected to security screening.
Before the election, the Democratic politician responded to these statements by saying that Trump could address him only as "Senator" after November.
HE CRITICIZED MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL
In his victory speech, El-Sayed also touched on US foreign policy. Opposing military support for Israel, the politician advocated that American tax revenues be used for domestic needs instead of wars abroad.
The Democratic politician criticized the transfer of US resources to wars, stating that taxes should be allocated to education, healthcare, and infrastructure services.
El-Sayed said he opposed American citizens' taxes being spent on military operations in other countries instead of meeting the needs of their own children.
HE HAD ALSO WON THE RACE WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Before entering the Senate race in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed had also achieved a significant success in the Democratic Party primaries.
El-Sayed, who defeated Haley Stevens, backed by the party's centrist wing, focused during his election campaign on access to healthcare, the cost of living, and economic inequalities.
El-Sayed, who received support from Independent Senator Bernie Sanders and figures from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, also achieved election victory against Republican Mike Rogers.
With this result in Michigan, which Trump won in the 2024 presidential election, El-Sayed became entitled to be the first Muslim politician to serve in the US Senate.