Michigan’s new U.S. Senator-elect says he’s going to prove to voters that progressive Democrats are electable across the state and country.
U.S. Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed sat down with the Michigan Chronicle Wednesday morning following his historic win over former Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers. El-Sayed in the interview said he wants to help residents through his Senate office and help elect more progressive lawmakers across the state.
“I want to build the best constituency services unit the state’s ever seen,” El-Sayed told Michigan Chronicle. “That’s the world I come out of, I’ve led health departments.”
“I want to make sure that we’re passing and pushing legislation and getting leaders that are ready to do that work. That’s going to be up and down the state, I’m looking forward to getting leaders ready to get that work done. Whether it’s at the city, county, state, federal level. Let’s go build a party, a movement that actually achieves the things that we want to achieve.”
Democratic insiders will watch closely who Michigan’s new U.S. Senator supports in local races, as progressives eye primary challenges of moderate incumbents. And the country will be watching who he stumps with in the 2028 presidential campaign.
El-Sayed said his decision to run was driven by a desire to solve problems rather than seeking political hype or fame. The former health director said he views politics as “the alchemy of turning attention into power” and intends to use his platform to force essential conversations.
But in the aftermath of Wednesday’s blue tsunami, El-Sayed has emerged as one of the most popular figures of the entire election cycle. Videos of El-Sayed, his wife and members of his staff are being viewed by millions of voters across the country who were fired up to see a progressive get elected in a purple state like Michigan.
“I knew Donald Trump wasn’t going to be able to help himself and I know how to get attention, so my job is turning it into power,” El-Sayed said. “I didn’t know, but like the minute they started to move like that, I was like, ‘Yo, okay, let’s go.’ You know, just build me the biggest, best platform in America. Go ahead.”
President Donald Trump made racist attacks against El-Sayed’s name, called him a “jihadist” and suggested he was affiliated with terror groups. His Republican opponent, Rogers, said what his critics were concerned about wasn’t about his faith, but an un-American ideology.
El-Sayed ran on a progressive agenda that included universal healthcare and a desire to reverse the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that allows corporations to donate to political causes.
“Like I told people, I’m gonna get money out of politics, put money in your pocket, pass Medicare for All,” El-Sayed said. “And say what you will about me, I don’t back down, I don’t shut up, and I outwork anyone in front of me.”
Some of the uncertainty surrounding Black voter’s attitudes toward El-Sayed’s campaign stems from civil and criminal conflicts at liquor stores and small businesses operated by Arab Americans. El-Sayed, who is Egyptian, has also criticized the treatment of Black customers at Arab American and Chaldean-owned corner stores.
Faith leaders condemned Islamophobia in digital and TV ads that pit Black residents against their Arab American neighbors.
El-Sayed’s primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed his Republican challenger. The move shocked Democrats who said her betrayal only bolstered party unity.
El-Sayed didn’t directly address Stevens’ flip-flop, saying that it didn’t matter.
He was right.
El-Sayed won a large majority Black voters by 86% and voters under age 30, taking 69% of those votes. Rogers, who spent time campaigning in Detroit, only received 5% of the city’s votes.
Stevens’s support for Rogers didn’t seem to matter to voters. Rogers lost to El-Sayed by seven points Tuesday, part of a very strong night for Democrats in Michigan and across the country.
El-Sayed took the stage Tuesday night around 11:30pm to declare victory over his President Donald Trump-endorsed Republican nominee Mike Rogers.
“We don’t need to be great again,” El-Sayed said in his victory speech. “We need to embrace that thing about us that has always made us great: the will to be more perfect.”
“Enjoy your retirement,” said of Rogers. “I know you got a house in Florida and 2 yachts. See, you chose hate and Michigan chose hope. May we never have to see the likes of you in this state again.”