Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat, defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's open Senate race. He is set to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. In his Detroit victory speech, he addressed JD Vance with the Arabic term habibi and jabbed at him over the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry.
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat, defeated Republican Mike Rogers on Tuesday in the race for Michigan's open Senate seat. El-Sayed is set to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, after the Associated Press called the race. He had earlier defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in the August Senate primary despite heavy spending by AIPAC-backed groups supporting her campaign.
In his victory speech in Detroit, El-Sayed addressed JD Vance by saying JD, habibi. He noted the irony that Vance is constitutionally obligated to swear him in in January. Habibi is Arabic for my love or my dear and is commonly used as an affectionate nickname among friends and family. It is often used as a pet name for friends, significant others or family members.
El-Sayed also jabbed at Vance over the rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes, declaring a one-to-zero Wolverine lead. Vance has a degree from Ohio State. El-Sayed said his campaign had used the word inshallah, meaning God willing, to emphasize hopes for victory, and that after winning they could turn it into alhamdulillah, or praise be to God.
During the campaign, Trump mocked El-Sayed's name and called him a jihadist.
