Anti-Israel Candidate El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Seat

Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, a physician and epidemiologist, has won a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, becoming the first Muslim senator in American history. El-Sayed, who has been critical of Israel, vowed in his victory speech to redirect funds towards Americans instead of "apartheid, genocide, and war," a clear reference to Israel. His campaign has been hailed by many Arab Michigan residents as a historic moment for the Muslim community in the U.S., comparable to the pride Black Americans felt after Barack Obama's presidential victory in 2008.

El-Sayed, 41, the son of Egyptian immigrants, previously served as head of the Wayne County Department of Health Services. He has frequently accused Israel of "genocide" in Gaza and called for an end to all military aid to the country, arguing that the funds should be invested domestically. He defeated a more moderate, pro-Israel candidate, Haley Stevens, in the Democratic primary and then went on to win the general election against Republican Mike Rogers by approximately 8%.

During his campaign, El-Sayed targeted the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, which spent millions of dollars against him. "To AIPAC, who spent $42 million against us, thank you for giving me the opportunity to defeat you twice," he declared in his victory speech. He also stated, "They try to portray you as hateful if you believe Palestinian children should grow up in their homeland without being murdered with our tax dollars." He reiterated his stance that U.S. tax money should fund domestic needs like schools, healthcare, and infrastructure, not "apartheid, genocide, or war."

The race was contentious, with accusations linking El-Sayed's family to the Muslim Brotherhood and his sister's alleged support for the October 7th Hamas attack. El-Sayed also faced criticism for not explicitly condemning an antisemitic campaign that included an advertisement blaming Israel for high food prices and suggesting that money should be saved to "kill Palestinians." Former President Donald Trump repeatedly attacked El-Sayed, calling him a "dangerous jihadist" and comparing him to the 9/11 terrorists.

In his victory speech, El-Sayed emphasized his Muslim identity and addressed Trump's remarks, stating, "I know you had a hard time with my name. From now on, you can just call me 'Senator.'" He also spoke about the need for unity and dialogue, acknowledging that some Jewish and Black voters had reservations about him, but asserting that the election results challenged the notion that he couldn't win their support.

El-Sayed's stance on foreign aid extends to Egypt, his family's homeland. He has criticized U.S. military aid to Egypt, accusing it of propping up a "military dictatorship" under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He also commented on Trump's announcement that the U.S. would cease military aid to Israel, saying, "I think the President is actually right on this policy. I would also like to stop selling weapons to Israel that are used to carry out the worst acts, including genocide and apartheid."