Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat as 'habibi' quip draws wide attention
Summary
- Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers on 3 November 2026, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
- In his Detroit victory speech he addressed Vice President JD Vance as 'JD, habibi' and joked Vance was obligated to swear him in.
- His use of Arabic words like 'habibi' and 'inshallah' drew celebration among Arabs and a spike in Google searches for the word's meaning.
- Days after the win he registered Habibi PAC, a leadership PAC named for the Arabic term of endearment he used on the campaign trail.
- The Free Press deleted a video claiming he gave his victory speech in Arabic and issued a correction after criticism.
- He faced Islamophobic attacks during the campaign, including Donald Trump calling him a 'jihadist,' which commentators said backfired.
Reactions
- The Free Press said the post contained a factual error, fell short of its standards, and that it would update how it handles social media posts.
- Egyptian academic Khalil al-Anani praised the quip on X, writing that 'habibi' is the sweetest word and thanking El-Sayed for bringing joy to Egyptians.
- Linda Sarsour called the win a rebuke of bigotry and said it showed progressives can win standing up for Palestinian rights.
- Adam Johnson argued the seven-point win disproves claims that a strong Israel critic is unelectable.
- On The View, Abdul El-Sayed joked that a lie detector was still on the table for Donald Trump, and said his attackers had nothing to say about gas or groceries.
- Commentator Anton Daniels called the result disturbing, saying politics had become a popularity contest and Michigan a blue state.
Timeline newest first
Commentary on Abdul El-Sayed's use of 'habibi' continued days after his Senate win, asking whether Americans' fondness for the word extends to Arab Americans.
The Free Press deleted reporter Maya Sulkin's video claiming Abdul El-Sayed gave his victory speech in Arabic, four days after posting it on 4 November.
A Federal Election Commission filing showed Habibi PAC registered as a leadership PAC sponsored by Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, among several newly elected Democrats.
The Free Press issued a correction on 6 November saying Abdul El-Sayed said a few phrases in Arabic but delivered most of his victory speech in English.
A report said Bari Weiss pushed CBS News to investigate whether Abdul El-Sayed had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, allegations he denies.
Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed launched Habibi PAC, a leadership PAC named for the Arabic endearment he used to push back on right-wing attacks about his religion.
Abdul El-Sayed praised Allah and introduced himself with his full Arabic name, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, at his Detroit victory party.
Arabs from Michigan to the Middle East celebrated Abdul El-Sayed's win and his use of 'habibi' and 'inshallah,' posting music video clips on social media.
Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Senate race by seven points, roughly 340,000 votes, drawing 95 percent support from Democratic voters per exit polls.
The UAW had endorsed Abdul El-Sayed on 5 June 2026, four days into the American Axle strike in Three Rivers, whose workers won a $30 top rate by 2030.
Exit polls showed about 86 percent of Black Michigan voters backed Abdul El-Sayed, below Gretchen Whitmer's roughly 94 percent in 2022.
Abdul El-Sayed told The View his attackers had nothing to say about gas prices, groceries, or health care and only reached for his name and faith.
In an interview, Abdul El-Sayed said he plans to challenge Donald Trump and shake up Democratic leadership after the anti-Muslim attacks against him.
Lord Mendoza, Provost of Oriel College, congratulated its alumnus Abdul El-Sayed, who earned a doctorate in Public Health there, on his election.
At an October 2026 rally, Donald Trump said Republicans would need a special metal detector before letting Abdul El-Sayed into the Senate chamber.
Haley Stevens, whom AIPAC spent over $30 million to help in the primary, endorsed Abdul El-Sayed's Republican opponent Mike Rogers on 1 November 2026.
Abdul El-Sayed's win gave Democrats 54 Senate seats starting in January, alongside the House control they won in the November 2026 midterms.
The Associated Press called Michigan's Senate race for Abdul El-Sayed, who led Mike Rogers 51.8 percent to 46.2 percent with 90 percent of votes reported.
Sources newest first
- America loves saying 'habibi.' Does it love the people who say it?
Anna Rahmanan's Newsweek article weighs whether America's fondness for saying "habibi" — Arabic for "my beloved," able to convey affection or gentle mockery — extends to Arab Americans, anchored in Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's Senate win. She recounts his victory-night jokes, including calling JD Vance "JD, habibi" and quipping that Vance is constitutionally obligated to swear him in, though Vance was a fierce campaign critic and technically need not perform the ceremony.
The Free Press Deletes Video In Which Reporter Is Scared Of The Word "Habibi" | DefectorDefector's Brandy Jensen reports that The Free Press deleted a video by reporter Maya Sulkin four days after posting it, in which Sulkin claimed senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed gave his victory speech in Arabic when he gave it almost entirely in English. In a note, The Free Press says the post contained a factual error and fell short of its standards; Jensen jokes that unlikely blue-wave victories now include Iran's supreme leader.
US Senator Abdul El-Sayed launches ‘Habibi’ political action committeeMichigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has launched Habibi PAC, a leadership PAC named for the Arabic term of endearment he used often on the campaign trail, days after becoming the first Muslim member of the US Senate. Federal Election Commission filings show he is among several newly elected Democrats registering leadership PACs, which OpenSecrets says ambitious lawmakers use to gain clout, though getting money out of politics was one of his central pledges.
MAGA-Curious CBS Boss’ Side Hustle Admits Wild MistakeThe Daily Beast reports that Bari Weiss's Free Press issued corrections about incoming senators: it had claimed Abdul El-Sayed, the nation's first Muslim senator-elect, gave his victory speech in Arabic, though Grok estimated only 0.27 percent of it was, and it mislabeled Iowa's Josh Turek a Special Olympics athlete. The Beast, which notes Weiss was brought to CBS News by Paramount's David Ellison after he bought her site for $150 million, views the site as having blown the speech out of proportion.
Free Press Forced To Issue Correction After Reporting Abdul El-Sayed Gave His Victory Speech ‘In Arabic’A Mediaite article reports The Free Press issued a correction after reporter Maya Sulkin claimed Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed gave his victory speech "in Arabic," noting the video shows only a few Arabic phrases and that Sulkin left out El-Sayed's own explanation of "alhamdulillah," though it did not correct her claim that Ilhan Omar addressed her victory party in Somali, which Mediaite calls misleading. The article also cites a Semafor report that Bari Weiss pushed CBS News to investigate El-Sayed for Muslim Brotherhood ties, allegations he denies.
El-Sayed launches Habibi PACSenator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan Democrat who won his race by a wide margin on 3 November 2026, launched Habibi PAC, a leadership PAC to raise money for political allies, days after his victory. The Hill reports the name draws on his campaign's Arabic-flavored pushback against right-wing attacks, and quotes his victory speech jab at Vice President JD Vance: "JD, habibi. There is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January."
How Islamophobia backfired and helped elect the first Muslim senatorErin Cox's Washington Post article reports that Michigan's newly elected senator Abdul El-Sayed praised Allah and introduced himself with his full Arabic name, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, at his victory party. On the trail he joked his name contains "sounds that come out of parts of people's throats they don't know they got," and reader comments denounce campaign Islamophobia and praise his intelligence and charisma.
'JD, habibi.' Arabs celebrate El-Sayed's use of a term of affection in his victory speechAn Associated Press report says Arabs from Michigan to the Middle East are celebrating Abdul El-Sayed's Senate win and his use of Arabic words like "habibi" and "inshallah," with many delighting in his speech jab at JD Vance: "JD, habibi." El-Sayed, who faced Islamophobic attacks including Donald Trump calling him a "jihadist," will be the first Muslim American U.S. senator, and supporters have worn "Habibi for Abdul" shirts.
El-Sayed’s swing state win puts to bed the conventional wisdom about ‘electability’ and IsraelAdam Johnson, in an opinion article for The Real News Network, argues that Abdul El-Sayed's 7-point, roughly 340,000-vote win in Michigan's 2026 US Senate race disproves the conventional wisdom that a strong Israel critic is unelectable, after attacks from figures including Nancy Pelosi, Jim Clyburn, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Citing exit polls, Johnson contends narratives that El-Sayed struggled with Black and Jewish voters were bogus, and predicts party elites and mainstream media will downplay the victory heading into the 2028 primary.
The UAW Bet on Abdul El-Sayed and WonA Jacobin article recounts how the UAW backed Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's 2026 Senate race and saw the bet pay off: the union endorsed the Medicare for All advocate four days into a strike by nearly one thousand American Axle workers in Three Rivers, who won a $30 top rate by 2030, and El-Sayed carried the Trump-voting town while defeating Mike Rogers. Shawn Fain says the union will carry that power into the 2028 Big Three contract fight, and El-Sayed will be the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
Black Michiganders helped push Abdul El-Sayed to victory – but the numbers show he was less popular with this key voting bloc than some other Democratic candidatesA Conversation article by a political scientist examines how Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan's 2026 U.S. Senate race and will be the first Muslim senator, drew strong but not unmatched Black voter support — about 86% per exit polls, while 62% of Detroit primary voters had backed Haley Stevens. The author says small shifts in Black turnout and support may help explain El-Sayed's win over Mike Rogers versus Kamala Harris' 2024 defeat, and a quoted Detroit voter criticized Stevens' last-minute Rogers endorsement, saying "I felt like she pimped my community."
Abdul El-Sayed Reacts To Becoming First Muslim Elected To U.S. Senate | The ViewIn a View interview, Abdul El-Sayed, elected the first Muslim U.S. senator, tells the co-hosts his attackers had nothing to say on gas, groceries, or health care and only reached for his name and faith, while Sunny relays Donald Trump calling him a jihadist facing a metal detector and Ted Cruz a jihadist leprechaun; as a joke he offers Trump a lie detector. He says people are tired of retribution politics and unaffordable lives, plans to push Medicare for All and get money out of politics, and will work with any Senate colleague for Michigan.
‘JD, habibi ... swear me in’: What El-Sayed’s quip to Vance meansThe Washington Post explains the Arabic term of endearment "habibi" — beloved, essentially "my dear" — after Abdul El-Sayed's victory quip to Vice President JD Vance, "JD, habibi, swear me in," spurred a spike in searches. During a campaign marked by Islamophobic attacks, El-Sayed also joked that Trump could simply call him Senator, and told supporters "the bad guys lost."
Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed joins Morning Joe for a wide-ranging interviewOn MS NOW's Morning Joe, opinion writer Mara Gay interviews Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, who says he won by betting Michiganders would reject bigotry, and that affordability and consistency—not his message—beat campaigns against which he was outspent by $110 million. He says he is willing to work with anyone, including Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, criticizes U.S. subsidizing of Israel's war in Gaza, and argues the Democratic Party should build a big tent around delivering a dignified life for everyone.
Abdul El-Sayed speaks Arabic and trolls Trump and JD Vance... says the attacks didn't stop his winAnton Daniels posts Abdul El-Sayed's victory speech, in which El-Sayed declares himself Michigan's senator-elect and describes his movement as money out of politics, money in your pocket, and Medicare for all, joking that right-wing ops read "alhamdulillah" as praise be to God. Daniels finds the result a little disturbing, calling politics a popularity contest and Michigan a blue state.
El-Sayed’s first step to ‘transform’ politics: Erasing money’s influenceWashington Post reporters Erin Cox and Dan Merica report from Detroit that Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan and, in his victory speech, told supporters the win was never the goal but a step toward transforming politics by erasing money's influence. Commenters on the article are said to focus on money in politics, some doubting its removal is feasible without bipartisan support.
"JD Vance Will Have To Swear Me In..." Abdul El-Sayed Trolls Trump, Saying He Will Call Him SenatorAnton Daniels posts Abdul El-Sayed's victory speech as Michigan senator-elect, in which El-Sayed celebrates a movement for money out of politics and Medicare for all, says opponents spent a record $350 million to beat him, and jokes that after JD Vance swears him in, Donald Trump can just call him Senator. Daniels calls the result disturbing for Michigan, says voters chose on talking points and dislike of Trump, and warns Democrats will destroy culture and raise taxes.
EXCLUSIVE: Abdul El-Sayed Has Some Choice Words for Mike RogersMichigan voters elected Abdul El-Sayed to the U.S. Senate by seven points despite Donald Trump and JD Vance throwing everything they had against him. In an exclusive interview with Jonathan Cohn, El-Sayed reflects on the anti-Muslim attacks against him, gives his reasons for believing the Republicans' strategy failed, and plans to challenge Trump and shake up Democratic leadership.
Abdul El-Sayed elected to US Senate - Oriel CollegeOriel College announces that its alumnus Abdul El-Sayed, who matriculated in 2009 and earned a doctorate in Public Health, has been elected US Senator for Michigan, defeating Republican Mike Ross... Mike Rogers in the 2026 midterms, a victory the college says helped give Democrats a Senate majority and will make him America's first Muslim senator. Lord Mendoza, the Provost, congratulated him, and El-Sayed told his election night crowd in Detroit, "You took a chance on the unlikeliest of candidates."
Abdul El-Sayed Triumphed. Trump and Islamophobia Lost.John Nichols argues in The Nation that Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's victory over Mike Rogers on November 3, 2026 — making him the first Muslim elected to the US Senate — was the most profound rebuke Donald Trump suffered in midterms that gave Democrats both chambers of Congress. Nichols contrasts Trump's labeling El-Sayed a "jihadist" with the faith-based ad El-Sayed ran in response.
Abdul El-Sayed Becomes First Muslim Senator as Democrats Rout GOP Across the U.S. in Rebuke to TrumpDemocracy Now! reports Democrats won both chambers in the November 3, 2026 midterms, picking up at least seven Senate seats and electing Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed the first Muslim U.S. senator after a campaign of racist attacks led by President Trump and over $30 million in AIPAC spending for his primary rival Haley Stevens, who endorsed his opponent Mike Rogers. In an interview, Linda Sarsour calls the win a rebuke of bigotry showing progressives can win standing up for Palestinian rights, and El-Sayed's Detroit victory speech says his name and faith are not why people cannot afford groceries or a doctor.
El-Sayed Celebrates Win for ‘the Unlikeliest of Candidates’The New York Times reports Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan-born Rhodes scholar and son of Egyptian immigrants, has defeated Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, after a primary win over Haley Stevens and a campaign President Trump marked by calling him "a jihadist." El-Sayed told supporters the attacks targeted "the very idea of America," while Mallory McMorrow predicted Rogers's message would backfire.
'Michigan Chose Hope': Medicare for All Champion Abdul El-Sayed Wins Election to US Senate | Common DreamsCommon Dreams reports that Medicare for All champion Abdul El-Sayed defeated former US Representative Mike Rogers in Michigan's US Senate race, a win announced Wednesday that, with Democrats' House control, gives the party 54 Senate seats starting in January. In a victory speech in Detroit, El-Sayed cast his win as "Michigan chose hope" over an opposition he said attacked his name and faith to distract from issues like the cost-of-living crisis, while Sunrise Movement's Aru Shiney-Ajay said Democrats won by running on economic populism.
El-Sayed Full Victory SpeechC-SPAN posts Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed's full victory speech after his election as senator from Michigan, in which he says his movement is for getting money out of politics, putting money in people's pockets, and Medicare for all. He says opponents spent a record 350 million dollars trying to beat him, attacked his name and Muslim faith, and jokes that Donald can call him Senator once JD swears him in.
Progressive Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race to become first Muslim US senatortheguardian.com· 10d
Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive former Wayne county health director, defeated Republican Mike Rogers to win Michigan's US Senate race, becoming the country's first Muslim senator and adding to a decisive Democratic Senate majority. The Guardian calls the campaign against him, marked by Donald Trump's attacks on his faith and roughly $30 million in Aipac spending, largely Islamophobic.
El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Race in a Tight Victory for DemocratsA New York Times article reports that Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat and critic of Israel, won Michigan's Senate race, defeating Mike Rogers and overcoming Haley Stevens's last-minute endorsement of Rogers, and will become the nation's first Muslim senator in January. The paper describes a bitter, costly contest centered on his Israel positions and Republican attacks on his faith, and says he aims to influence Democratic policy on health care and Israel into the 2028 race.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeats Republican Mike Rogers in key Michigan Senate racenpr.org· 10d
NPR reports that Abdul El-Sayed, a 42-year-old former public health official, defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's closely watched U.S. Senate race, per an Associated Press race call. The article covers his narrow primary win over Haley Stevens, whose last-minute endorsement of Rogers underscored Democratic divisions, and notes he will be the first Muslim American to serve in the Senate.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan’s high-stakes Senate racenbcnews.com· 10d
Abdul El-Sayed, a 42-year-old epidemiologist and progressive allied with Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, won Michigan's U.S. Senate race over Republican Mike Rogers per NBC News' projection, becoming the first Muslim elected to the Senate despite attacks from Donald Trump and others over his faith. Rep. Haley Stevens, whom he beat in a primary backed by over $30 million in AIPAC-affiliated spending, endorsed Rogers instead, and El-Sayed will succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
- El-Sayed defeats Rogers to win Michigan Senate race
The Hill reports that Decision Desk HQ projects Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a doctor and former Detroit health official, defeated Trump-backed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the chamber. The race was roiled by Haley Stevens's surprise endorsement of Rogers, which drew resignations and Democratic outrage, and by Trump's anti-Muslim attacks against El-Sayed.
LIVE: Abdul El-Sayed Reacts to Election Night Results in Detroit | AC1GDRM News live-streams Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Michigan's 2026 U.S. Senate seat, addressing supporters at his Detroit watch party as results come in. The race pits him against Republican nominee Mike Rogers to succeed retiring Senator Gary Peters, and DRM News calls it a battleground contest with vote counts rolling in across Wayne County.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeats Mike Rogers in Michigan to become first Muslim U.S. senatorA Washington Post live elections updates article reports that Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican former congressman Mike Rogers in Michigan to become the country's first Muslim elected to the Senate, overcoming an anti-Muslim campaign by President Trump and his allies. It also says Democrats won control of the House and Senate in the 2026 election and that Jocelyn Benson won Michigan's governor's race.
Election Day in Michigan: Voters sound off on key issues, racesdetroitnews.com· 11d
A Detroit News live blog tracks Michigan's midterm Election Day on 3 November 2026, when voters chose a governor, an open U.S. Senate seat and control of the Legislature. It reports Jocelyn Benson facing John James, Abdul El-Sayed against Mike Rogers, long lines and early-vote totals, and quotes voters, candidates and President Trump, who said Israel will no longer receive U.S. aid after the year's end.
Michigan U.S. Senate 2026: Live Midterm Election Results, El-Sayed vs. RogersThe New York Times posts live results for Michigan's 2026 Senate race, where the Associated Press has called the race for Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who leads Republican Mike Rogers 51.8 percent to 46.2 percent with 90 percent of votes reported. The page also tracks the broader midterms: Democrats' House takeover, Josh Turek's Iowa upset, Marcy Kaptur's 23rd-term win, a 28-vote Mississippi Senate margin, and Latino and blue-collar shifts toward Democrats.
Background newest first
Corporate Democrats are weaponizing identity politics to smear progressives | Arwa MahdawiArwa Mahdawi's Guardian column argues that corporate Democrats from Haley Stevens to Hakeem Jeffries cynically weaponize identity politics to ward off reasonable criticism, pointing to Stevens' 11th-hour endorsement of Mike Rogers, the Republican opponent of Abdul El-Sayed, and Jeffries' months-long refusal to endorse Zohran Mamdani. Noting Jeffries' private meeting with Jared Kushner and her expectation he will be the next speaker, she urges him to heed progressive concerns rather than repeat the 'Bernie bros' playbook.
Van Hollen to challenge Schumer for Senate Democratic leaderyahoo.com· 43h
An Associated Press report on Yahoo News says Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate Democratic leader in a secret-ballot election in early December 2026, the first contested race for the post in decades. Schumer says he has the votes to win, while Bernie Sanders and Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed back Van Hollen, who has criticized Schumer's ties to special interests.
Abdul El-Sayed on Democratic leadership, health care access and inspiring a new generationPBS NewsHour's Amna Nawaz interviews Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan's first Muslim elected to the US Senate, about Democratic leadership, health care, and his push to make Medicare for All a priority. He backs Chris Van Hollen for Senate majority leader, warns that Medicaid cuts taking effect January 1, 2027 could collapse rural hospitals in Republican-held states, and says he would even rebrand Medicare for All "Trumpcare for All" to win President Trump over.
Southern Democrats Repudiate MAGA Racismnewyorker.com· 2d
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor's New Yorker article argues that Southern Black Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterms weathered racist attacks from Donald Trump and his allies and ran unexpectedly strong campaigns, with Keisha Lance Bottoms becoming the first Black woman elected governor and wins for Abdul El-Sayed and Scott Colom. Taylor writes that these class-focused campaigns show the viability of Democratic politics in the South, if the party chooses to invest there.
El-Sayed says Dems need to earn their mandate and take 'righteous risks' : NPR's NewsmakersIn an NPR Newsmakers interview, senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed — Michigan's first Muslim in the U.S. Senate — says Democrats must earn their midterm mandate through bold, "righteous" action, urging Chris Van Hollen to challenge Chuck Schumer for leadership and daring Trump to veto Democratic healthcare bills. He also calls for ending the war in Iran, Medicare for All, and abolishing ICE, and hopes Vance's swearing-in of new senators won't be awkward.
US-Midterms: Die Menschen haben genug von Polarisierung und gegenseitiger Abwertungtaz.de· 3d
In her taz column, Gilda Sahebi argues the Democrats' midterm wins — James Talarico's "Love your neighbor" campaign in Texas, Jon Ossoff's Senate defense in Georgia, Abdul El-Sayed's win in Michigan — came from fighting polarization rather than it, a lesson she says German politicians miss even as they celebrate the result. She notes that figures like Karin Prien, Karl Lauterbach and Friedrich Merz, who cheer the Democrats, warn against a Left Party coalition in Berlin as "left radicals" not capable of governing, and calls polarization the instrument of authoritarians.
Republicans Pull Huge 180 on JD Vance for 2028 After Elections Lossnewrepublic.com· 5d
The New Republic reports that after the November 2026 election losses, Republicans are abandoning JD Vance's 2028 hopes, with donors and operatives turning to Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio, while Donald Trump replaced chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller. The article also covers Abdul El-Sayed's Senate win and Habibi PAC, immigrant deaths in ICE detention, and a proposed executive order branding nonprofits as terrorist-tied.
Trump Crumbles Trying to Defend How Much Money He’s Made as PresidentNew Republic covers Donald Trump's fumbling '60 Minutes' defense of his $3 billion wealth gain and World Liberty Financial dealings, alongside his 2026 midterm aftermath, the Iran war's 23 soldier deaths, and the administration's push to strip nonprofits of terrorist-tie designations. It also reports JD Vance's 2028 donor woes, Marco Rubio's openings, and first Muslim senator Abdul El-Sayed's new Habibi PAC.
Democrats’ Victory Will Be Wasted Without New Leadershipcurrentaffairs.org· 5d
Current Affairs argues that Democrats' 2026 landslide—powered by left-wing winners like Abdul El-Sayed, Angie Nixon, and Troy Jackson who triumphed despite Chuck Schumer's opposition or neglect—will be squandered if the party keeps its current leadership. It says Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries must be replaced, suggesting figures like Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
El-Sayed: Dems need a leader who will ‘deliver on the mandate that we just got’In an ABC News interview, senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan says Democrats need a leader who will deliver on the affordability mandate voters just gave them, and he questions why President Trump would hire Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff if Trump wants a productive relationship with Congress. El-Sayed recounts beating Mike Rogers by seven points despite being outspent 11 to 1 in the primary, says he is happy to meet with Trump on goals like Medicare for all, and criticizes Senate Democratic leadership.
Israel took a beating in the US midterms | Judith LevineJudith Levine argues in a Guardian opinion piece that Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, took a beating in the US midterms. Abdul El-Sayed beat Mike Rogers by seven points in Michigan despite AIPAC spending nearly $30 million, its biggest investment ever in one race, while six Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed candidates won Congressional seats; Levine holds that strong criticism of Israel may have put such Democrats over the top, though in many places Israel probably had little effect.
Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed’s grandparents react to historic win in MichiganABC News interviews Jan and Judy Johnson, the Presbyterian grandparents of Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, after he won election as the first Muslim senator in American history. They recall raising him during college, his weekly calls, staying positive through attacks on his name and faith, and say the real work now starts.
The incoming class of U.S. senators is full of historic firstsAn NPR article reports that the incoming 2027 Senate class holds many historic firsts: Josh Turek as the first Paralympian, Abdul El-Sayed as the first Muslim, Peggy Flanagan as the first Native American, and Chris Pappas as the first openly gay man elected to the chamber. It also notes Democrats took Senate control in 2026 with wins in Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Texas, and Kansas.
Opinion | Jon Ossoff’s merciless strategy paid off. Other Democrats should take notes.ms.now· 8d
An ms.now opinion piece argues that Senator Jon Ossoff's merciless strategy paid off and other Democrats should take notes, pointing to combative victory speeches in which Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed told Mike Rogers, "You chose hate, and Michigan chose hope," and told Vice President JD Vance, "There is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January." It claims the midterms delivered the strongest rejection of a ruling party since 1974,Ossoff "pummeled" Representative Mike Collins, and forecasts a divided Washington, urging Democrats to convince voters the GOP must be viewed with contempt.
Chuck Schumer faces revolt despite blue tsunami—Full list of Democratic rebelsNewsweek reports that despite Democrats flipping seven Senate seats in the 2026 midterms—including upsets in states Trump carried by double digits—Chuck Schumer faces a revolt, with incoming senators like Abdul El-Sayed, Troy Jackson, and Adam Hamilton declining to back him for Senate Democratic leader. Schumer says he has the votes to win reelection, and experts like Robert Y. Shapiro suggest he'll likely get credit for the triumph, though calls for fresh leadership persist.
‘I didn’t expect to be a main character’: Abdul El-Sayed heads to the Senate with a mandate – and a spotlightA Guardian feature profiles Abdul El-Sayed, who becomes the first Muslim US senator when he takes his seat in January 2027 after beating Republican Mike Rogers by about seven points in Michigan despite rightwing attacks on his faith, including Trump calling him a jihadist. He won majorities among Black and Jewish voters, campaigned on ending US military aid to Israel, and analysts expect him to arrive in Washington with unusual attention.
Trump Runs Away as Reporter Reminds Him He’s a Big, Giant LoserThe New Republic reports that after Republicans' heavy November 2026 midterm losses, Trump walked away from reporters who asked about replacing chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, whom the outlet calls his most hardline aide. It also covers Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim U.S. senator and ICE detainee deaths linked to deficient medical care.
Trump Plans to Accuse Nonprofits of Having Terrorist TiesA New Republic roundup leads with The Wall Street Journal's report that Trump is weighing an executive order branding some nonprofits as having terrorist ties and stripping their nonprofit status, an approach the magazine calls its standby strategy of calling targets terrorists. The post also covers Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim U.S. senator, deaths of immigrants in ICE detention, Stephen Miller replacing Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, and the U.S. nearing the loss of its measles elimination status.
Fox News CRASHES OUTThe God Show's hosts react to clips of Fox News and CNN coverage of the midterms: Fox pundits mourn a collapsed Republican coalition and a nightmare map, Donald Trump tells Brett Baier the polls are the worst and the MAGA base is 100% of the party, Dan Crenshaw spars with a CNN interviewer, and senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed calls JD Vance a coward while offering to work with him. A host jokes the fascists are crashing out and viewers should grab popcorn, celebrates the blue wave and all-blue border districts, and predicts Marco Rubio will resign.
El-Sayed lays out plan for the incoming Democratic Congressdailykos.com· 9d
Commenters on Daily Kos's article on Abdul El-Sayed's plan for the incoming Democratic Congress largely cheer the Senator-elect — some back him for Majority Leader or Speaker, while others say it is too soon — and several defend his nomination against writers who had backed Haley Stevens. Among the rest, commenter F D. credits Mayor Mamdani with a 131 million dollar DoorDash settlement, a rent freeze, and a 28 billion dollar housing plan, strawbale claims Trump and Congress are hiding Israel aid in the NDAA, and Dave from Oregon recommends passing an ethics bill in the first week.
Democrats' victory was clear. The party's future is not
apnews.com· 9d
An Associated Press analysis reports that the 2026 midterms handed Democrats their largest congressional majority in decades, with progressives like Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Troy Jackson in Maine winning alongside moderates who flipped Kansas and North Carolina. With President Trump retaining veto power and potential 2028 contenders like JB Pritzker and Chris Van Hollen already staking positions, the article says the victory has deepened rather than settled the party's fight over its direction.
Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault in London trialThe Washington Post live blog leads with a London jury finding Russell Brand guilty at Southwark Crown Court of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, with sentencing set for Monday and acquittals on two rape charges and attempted indecent assault. It also follows the midterms' fallout: Democrat Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim elected to the Senate and quipping "JD, habibi" at Vance, oil falling to $94 a barrel, Teresa Benitez-Thompson's upset in Nevada's 2nd District, a "Run Ro" draft committee urging Ro Khanna toward 2028, D.C. officials seeking National Guard withdrawals, and the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Devin J. Hernandez in Okinawa training.
JUST IN: Abdul El-Sayed Explains Why He Won't Back Chuck Schumer For Senate Majority LeaderForbes Breaking News interviews Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, who declines to commit to backing Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader, saying he is for action and for Chris Van Hollen, and would support whoever can pass his agenda of getting money out of politics, Medicare for All, and affordability. In the wide-ranging talk he calls the coming Medicaid cuts a healthcare nuclear bomb, blames tainted-lettuce outbreaks on cuts to the FDA and CDC, calls JD Vance a coward who attacked his faith and name, and says US weapons transfers violate the Leahy laws.
Midterm results ‘a Watergate-level repudiation,’ Cruz saysThe Washington Post's live blog of the 2026 midterm elections tracks Democratic wins — Abdul El-Sayed's Senate seat in Michigan, James Talarico's defeat of Ken Paxton in Texas, and Teresa Benitez-Thompson's upset in Nevada's 2nd District — as Ted Cruz calls the losses "a Watergate-level repudiation." It also reports Russell Brand's London conviction for rape and sexual assault, oil prices and markets moving on the results, Rosie O'Donnell weighing a return from Ireland, and D.C. declaring "PoPville Day."
See how Americans celebrated Democrats’ historic sweepA Washington Post photo gallery shows Americans celebrating Democrats' election-night sweep, in which the party regained control of the House and Senate and won close races in Texas, Michigan, Georgia and other states. The pictures capture firsts including James Talarico's Texas Senate win, Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim U.S. senator, and Keisha Lance Bottoms becoming the first Black female governor, which staff call a historic blue wave and a rebuke to President Trump.
2026 midterm election results live: Democrats sweep Congress. What’s next for Trump?MS NOW's live coverage reports Democrats reclaimed the House and Senate in the 2026 midterms, flipping at least 35 House seats and seven Senate seats as Trump-backed candidates lost from Texas to Michigan. Highlights include Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, Democrats winning statewide in Texas for the first time since 1990, Scott Colom's razor-thin Mississippi lead, and Trump blaming the Iran war for the sweep while Democrats like Jim Himes vow to cut off war funding and Hakeem Jeffries launches his speaker bid.
“The Bad Guys Lost”substack.com· 10d
JoJoFromJerz's Substack post celebrates a sweeping Democratic election night: wins in Texas, Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Maine, the Senate and House, governorships flipped in five states, Amy Acton's defeat of Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio, and a set of firsts including the country's first Black woman governor — with Donald Trump still president. She weaves in her own story of grief since 2016, quotes Dr. Abdul El-Sayed's "Let them know tomorrow that the bad guys lost," jokes that the MAGA brand's smell does not wash off, and urges Democrats to expose corruption, release the Epstein files, and restore cut assistance.
Abdul El-Sayed welcomes Trump's plan to cut Israel aid, calls for end to arms salesDemocrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's 2026 Senate race over Mike Rogers, becoming the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate as his party reclaimed control of Congress. Speaking to Morning Edition, he welcomed President Trump's plan to end roughly $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel and called for the U.S. to stop selling weaponry there, questioning support for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Pakistan too.
Progressive victories are now too loud to dismisspolitico.com· 10d
POLITICO reports that Democrats of all stripes swept the 3 November 2026 elections, with winners like Abdul El-Sayed and Troy Jackson running on unabashedly populist platforms such as Medicare for All and taxing the rich, and progressives claiming vindication that redefines electability heading into 2028. Establishment Democrats downplayed the results, arguing the winning tide was not unique to the left.
Trump tells CNBC he can work with Dems on ‘many more things than people understand’cnbc.com· 10d
CNBC's live blog tracks a Democratic midterm wave on 4 November 2026 — sweeping the House and Senate, flipping five governorships including Texas and Georgia, and driving the Dow up more than 1,500 points — as President Trump tells CNBC he can work with Democrats on "many more things than people understand" while blaming the Iran war's oil prices for the losses. The blog also covers Hakeem Jeffries' speaker bid, Pete Hegseth's uncertain future, voters rejecting data center measures in 40 of 41 races, and uncalled Senate counts in Mississippi and Alaska.
Everything you need to know from the US midterm electionsbbc.com· 10d
BBC reporters James FitzGerald and Nardine Saad round up the US midterm results: Democrats won both the Senate and House, taking control of Congress for the rest of Donald Trump's presidency, with firsts including James Talarico in Texas, Abdul El-Sayed as the first Muslim senator, Chris Pappas as the first openly gay man elected to the Senate, and Keisha Lance Bottoms as Georgia's first black and female governor. Susan Collins lost to Troy Jackson in Maine, Byron Donalds became Florida's first black governor, and Trump, striking a conciliatory tone, conceded the Democrats did a "good job" while blaming fuel prices from the Iran war for dimming views of his economy.
Coming Up: Democracy Now! Election Night SpecialDemocracy Now! is promoting a four-hour election night special broadcast on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, from 8 p.m. to midnight Eastern, streaming live on its website and YouTube channel, with guests from around the country as midterm results come in. The page gathers its midterm coverage: AIPAC defeats by Aisha Wahab and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Cori Bush's comeback run, democratic socialists on the rise, Trump's undermining of election confidence, the 92 closed Texas polling sites, and Senator Chris Murphy's calling Trump's plans to renew attacks on Iran "insane."
2026 Senate midterm election results as Democrats win control, Schumer vows "legislative razor wire" against Trumpcbsnews.com· 10d
CBS News' live blog of the 2026 Senate midterms projects Democrats taking both chambers, with a 54-seat Senate majority built on upsets in Texas, South Carolina, Kansas, Maine, Ohio, Iowa and North Carolina. Chuck Schumer vowed "legislative razor wire" against Trump, while Mississippi and Alaska remain toss-ups and Trump, in his first public appearance since the losses, touted the new White House ballroom.
Ta-Nehisi Coates on Haley Stevens and a “Violent, Chauvinist Power”vanityfair.com· 11d
In a Vanity Fair opinion essay, Ta-Nehisi Coates argues that Haley Stevens's endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers, days after Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, ties her to an anti-Muslim culture war whose aim, he writes, is rendering Muslims and Arabs more killable — a war reaching its apogee, in his view, in Gaza.
Haley Stevens Thrown Out of the Michigan Democratic Party, State Chair Says: ‘You Don’t Abandon All Your Values!’A Mediaite article on Yahoo reports that Rep. Haley Stevens announced on 1 November 2026 she was dropping her support for Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who beat her by less than a point in the August primary, and backing his Republican challenger, Rep. Mike Rogers. Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel says Stevens is not and will not be a member of the state party and accuses her of abandoning her values, while Stevens calls herself "still a very proud Democrat" and says her switch is about leadership and integrity.
The Final, Electric Days of Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate CampaignEliza Griswold's New Yorker article rides along with Abdul El-Sayed, a doctor and former Wayne County health director running for Michigan's Senate seat against Mike Rogers, whose lead in recent polls sits within the margins of error. It follows his Upper Peninsula strategy, hospital-closing rallies, and the viral confrontation with Tommy Teepell, whose heckling is tied to the nonprofit America Next, alongside attacks from Trump and Vance, Obama's Detroit visit, and strained relations with Detroit's Black and Jewish communities.
Senate candidate El-Sayed wants to 'grill' RFK Jr., calls him the 'most incompetent HHS secretary ever’statnews.com· 17d
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says he wants to grill HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom he calls the "most incompetent HHS secretary ever," and would help lead the push for "Medicare for All" if elected. The STAT Plus article notes he is an Egyptian-American epidemiologist whom Bernie Sanders pitches as Medicare for All's future standard-bearer, and quotes President Trump's warning about "hordes of jihadis" and JD Vance's "little weasel" jab.
