Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is projected to win his closely watched race against Republican Mike Rogers, leading pollsters reported on Wednesday, with the anti-Israel candidate set to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
"Up until right about now, you might have noticed I always say 'inshallah,' or 'God willing,' whenever the outcome of this race was mentioned," El-Sayed said in a victory speech. "But today, tonight, we can turn that inshallah into alhamdulillah!"
Afterwards, El-Sayed quipped "For the right-wing ops, that just means 'praise be to God.'"
El-Sayed also took a shot at US President Donald Trump intentionally misnaming him in the past, calling him "Mohammed."
"Donald, I know you struggled with my name," El-Sayed said. "So after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on and call me 'Senator.'"
El-Sayed claims Israel committing genocide in Gaza
In his speech, El-Sayed also referenced his past criticism of Israel, saying that "we don't want our money sent to do apartheid, or genocide, or war."
El-Sayed has stirred controversy throughout his campaign due to his stance on Israel, having accused the Jewish state of genocide over the war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel rejects the claim, while Rogers disputes it.
The now-victorious candidate reiterated his accusation during an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes on Monday, further arguing that the United States continues to declare its support for a two-state solution while its actions help prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, specifically in the form of military assistance to parties working against its formation.