El-Sayed: Michigan rejected ‘hateful, spiteful campaign’

Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D) on Wednesday said Michigan “rejected a hateful, spiteful campaign” run by his opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers (R), in the state’s Senate race .

“Michigan proved just how big we are,” El-Sayed told The Associated Press , after he was projected the winner.

“Rejected a hateful, spiteful campaign that had nothing to say about the issues and only wanted to point to my name and my face,” he continued. “Michiganders rejected that. Every single county, every single one, pushed against that.”

The Democrat, who is set to become the first Muslim senator , faced attacks on his faith and family background on the campaign trail from Rogers, President Trump and Vice President Vance.

The GOP nominee claimed the progressive candidate had “ pledged his support ” to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the Trump administration designated as a terrorist group last year.

El-Sayed repeatedly pushed back on these accusations, saying he was “proud to be an American” when asked about them during a fiery debate .

“I’m proud of our Constitution that guarantees all of us the right to pray as we choose to pray,” he continued. “And the question that you would ask that, I think, is actually really quite shameful.”

The incoming senator told the AP on Wednesday afternoon he had still not spoken to Rogers after the Republican issued a concession statement earlier in the day.

In the statement, Rogers extended his gratitude to the Michiganders who supported his campaign and issued a warning.

“Michigan — we have a state to save, now more than ever,” he said. “Our work continues, and I remain hopeful that Michigan’s best days are ahead.”

El-Sayed defeated the Republican candidate by around 7 percentage points, according to results from Decision Desk HQ on Wednesday afternoon.

The Michigan Democrat told the newswire that he took “a moment of reflection” on his historic victory Wednesday morning, thinking about what it would mean for his two young daughters.

“Now, this is something they read about in the history books,” he added.