Democrat Abdul El-Sayed took a victory lap at Republicans’ expense early Wednesday, telling defeated rival Mike Rogers to “enjoy your retirement” and declaring that “the bad guys lost.” He also notably spoke in Arabic seconds into his victory speech.
El-Sayed delivered the jabs to supporters in Detroit after Michigan’s bruising U.S. Senate contest. CBS News projects the 42-year-old former health official defeated Rogers, a former Republican congressman, making him the first Muslim elected to the Senate.
The Democrat saved a pointed message for his defeated opponent.
“You chose hate, and Michigan chose hope,” he said.
El-Sayed accused his opponents of targeting his name and religion, saying they “went all in on one of the ugliest campaigns we’ve seen in our lifetimes.”
“They want an America that is too small for some of us,” he said.
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President Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz had used the label “jihadist” while attacking El-Sayed during the campaign, according to CBS News. Trump accused him of Muslim Brotherhood membership, while Cruz alleged support for the group. El-Sayed has denied ever being a member.
The victory speech mixed those political swipes with references to his Muslim faith.
El-Sayed opened by recalling that he had used “inshallah,” or “God willing,” whenever the race’s outcome came up.
“Today, tonight, we can turn that ‘inshallah’ into an ‘alhamdulillah,'” he said, explaining that it means “praise be to God.”
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
