Abdul El-Sayed made headlines with his sharp and funny victory speech after winning Michigan’s US Senate race taking aim at President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. His comments (Vance is “habibi”), especially the latter one, were soon one of the talking points after 2026 US midterm elections.
El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in the closely watched Michigan Senate contest and became the first Muslim American elected to the United States Senate. It was also a moment for progressives in the Democratic Party.
Speaking to hundreds of cheering supporters in Detroit, El-Sayed began his speech by saying “Michigan we did it!” He thanked voters and campaign volunteers who had supported his grassroots movement and called the victory a team effort.
But it was his remarks on Vance that received most attention
“JD habibi there’s this delicious irony that you’re constitutionally required to swear me in January.” he told the vice president. “You’re constitutionally required to do it in January.”
The comment referred to Vance’s constitutional obligation as vice president and president of the Senate to administer the oath to newly elected senators. El-Sayed’s remark turned a formal swearing-in ceremony into a political joke, laughter and applause from the crowd.
He also had a message for Trump who repeatedly attacked him during the election campaign and mocked his name.
“Donald look I know you had a hard time with my name so after JD swears me in January call me senator,” El-Sayed said.
Those remarks were all the more significant because he had been attacked throughout the campaign. Trump had gone after his identity and faith; El-Sayed’s political positions too.
Abdul El-Sayed TROLLING Trump and JD Vance After Winning Michigan’s Senate Race To JD Vance: “Habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in, in January.” To Trump: “I know you struggle with my name, so after JD swears me in, you can just go on and call me Senator.”
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) November 4, 2026
Responding to the attacks, the senator-elect said his opponents had tried “to make my name and religion central to this campaign.” These were not the reasons Americans were facing rising living costs, healthcare expenses and other economic challenges, he said.
El-Sayed also criticized the Republican campaign against him, calling it “one of the ugliest campaigns in recent memory” and adding that attacks on him were not just about him but about “a challenge to the idea of an inclusive America.”
The Michigan win is a major victory for El-Sayed son of Egyptian immigrants and public health official; physician by training who got into the political spotlight through a campaign on healthcare access, economic fairness and limiting money in politics.
His campaign was supported by progressive political figures like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
El-Sayed’s victory is also expected to bolster the progressive movement in the Democratic Party as it heads into the next presidential election cycle.
Beyond the electoral result, his speech had a broader message about representation; religious identity; political inclusion in the U.S.
With a historic Senate victory and messages for two of America’s most powerful political leaders Abdul El-Sayed made his election night celebration into something that was immediately national news.
Comments