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It's hard not to think about this victory in really grand moral political terms, given the tenor of this campaign and blatant Islamophobia that we've seen coming on the other side. Welcome to the stage, your US Senator-elect, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. We did it! It's a rebuke of Donald Trump's extremism. It's a rebuke against intolerance as well. We deserve an America for all her kids. So, Michigan, let's go build. Thank you so much.
3 days before election night, we came out to a Republican-leaning Detroit suburb for a rally with El-Sayed's opponent, Mike Rogers. What do you think about Abdul El-Sayed? We have a somebody running here who is anti-American, anti-Zionism, anti-Semitic, and he's a hateful guy. What's at stake for you? Uh American values, the continuation of America. Islam's in conflict with Western civilization.
Right. Donald Trump has described him as a jihadist, which is flagrantly untrue. Would you worry about the President of the United States saying something like that? Do you not The potential is there. What do you mean by that? The potential is there because it's in his It's in him. What's in him? What do you mean? Being raised as Muslim and Islam. So, anybody who's raised Muslim could be a jihadist. Is that what your view is? Could be. Could become a Christian, too. That I believe in good winning over evil.
Evil? Evil. What's evil? Islam is evil. Sir, what you're saying is extremely bigoted. Who is? What you're saying. Who is? What you were saying. he? Who is bigoted? What you were saying No, it's it's not bigoted. It's true. We'll leave it at that. Thank you so much. Oh, yeah. You can't print that, can you? Haha. Who's bigoted? Okay. Not going to say anything more about that. That's what we're dealing with in this race, right? There is no disguising what some of the rhetoric here is. And it's
not everybody, but it's a lot of people we've spoken to. It's bigotry. That's what it is. I think the worst candidate of all is the Democrat nominee here in Michigan. The farthest to the left you can get. He campaigns with a guy that says that the United States deserved what happened in the attacks of 9/11. He refuses to say and condemn the Muslim Brotherhood. He's radical, extreme, dangerous, scary. The next senator from the great state of Michigan, MIKE ROGERS.
YOU KNOW, many of you might not know this, but it's Abdul's birthday today. On Halloween. Okay. I'm just pointing out the day. So, what we thought is wouldn't it be nice if we got him a gift basket? Isn't that nice? Oh, oh, you're going to love this one. We bought him some Dubai chocolate. Maybe We know he doesn't like Mackinac fudge or Mackinac, so we thought a little chocolate for when you're flying back TO YOUR PLACE. TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT NOT ONLY IS A Democrat Socialist and candidate aligned uh also has a little special sauce of Muslim Brotherhood along the way.
I can't think of a more toxic mix to send back to the United States Senate representing us. Faith, family, and freedom, we will be the ones that defend America for the next generation. God bless you. Let's get this thing done. Hi Congressman, from The Guardian. Just wondered Oh, no. I'm sorry. think it's appropriate for the United States President of the United States to label your opponent a jihadist? you talk to my press person. Do you think it's appropriate for the President of the United States to label your opponent, sir? Yeah. Please. Please don't ambush.
I'm not ambushing you, sir. That was quite literally an ambush walking in the front door. I mean, you can see where it's coming from. We tried. uh on our way to canvassing get out the vote event for Abdul El-Sayed. Um we think he's going to be there. You're not going to believe this.
Literally just as we're pulling up, I've been sent this. Abdul said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away. And he's right. And that's why I am endorsing my brothers for the United States Only the Democrats. Seriously, only the Two days before the election. What I will say is I don't really think Haley Stevens is the figurehead of any political movement and likely the person who's going to lose out the most from it is her, not him, but we'll see. Is it open yet or not? No? All right. Thanks. Obviously, this is the race that everybody is following. Okay. More journalists here than actual members of the public at the moment.
What are your spidey senses telling you about the result? I think it's going to be very close. Obviously, hope very much that Abdul, who's a very, very strong candidate, make an excellent senator. I hope he wins. What's your day job normally? I'm a psychoanalyst. You can also guess my age if you'd like. Guess your age? Yeah. 25. I'm 81. 81? No way. Wow. I wasn't expecting that. How are we in Detroit? Woo! My name is Abdul El-Sayed and I am running to be your next United States Senator.
Shouldn't be this hard to afford a second bag of groceries. Shouldn't be this hard to pay your rent. Shouldn't be to fill up your tank. Shouldn't be this hard to see a doctor in the richest, most powerful country in the world. It should not be this hard to pay your taxes and know that money's going to be spent for you and your kids rather than dropping bombs on somebody else and their kids. Shouldn't be this hard. With a day to go, we joined auto worker union members, key part of his coalition, pushing for last minute support. Hey. Hi. I'm Oliver.
Maurice. Nice to meet you. And we're out here looking to knock on some of our UAW brothers and sisters' doors. And election day is tomorrow. My name is Maurice. I'm here from UAW Region 1. Sounds like you're not home, so I won't It is a Monday. Some folks are at work, Yeah, yeah. How you feeling about the election? I don't really vote or anything. I mean, I have voted, but it doesn't really bother me.
I've felt the way you felt before, where it's like, okay, politics, I know they want this person or this person in office. Well, how does that actually affect me? One of the main candidates that we're endorsing, Abdul El-Sayed, he's worried about what's going to make sure that we continue to have employment, that if we get sick, we have the time away from work to be able to attend to that, and also have the health care to support it. How you feeling about the election? Oh, well, I'll be out there voting on Tuesday. Tomorrow. Who you voting for? I'll just say it's under the t-shirt.
Blue is what I'm voting for. Yeah. What do you think about Abdul? This attack on him is terrible about him being terrorist, endorsing and all that crap. It is It's It's not good. This is a smear campaign. What do you make of your neighbor? He says he's going to Mike Rogers' son. He's got her opinion. I've got my opinion. A little bit of socialism is okay in my The guy in your book. Good day, gentlemen. I appreciate your time, sir. When you see the level of vitriol that's been directed at Abdul Sayed's campaign here, I just wonder how that makes you feel.
Unfortunately, it's something that's too familiar. There's been a lot of times where someone's race, someone's religion, just the way that they live their own lives can be somehow made to be a target. It's just It's inexcusable. What do you think it would mean if he does win and Michigan sends the first Muslim American to the Senate? This is the proudest I've been to vote since my first time ever voting um back in 2012 for Barack Obama. You're talking about somebody who has so much energy in this community of folks having some hope. I love election day. Especially when it's as warm as this.
Hello. Hi. Are you going to vote? Of course. Do you mind me asking how you're planning to vote this time? I would have voted for Abdul. It's just like sad and it's We're not talking about his policies. We're not talking about any of it. We're just talking about his race, which I think is unfair. How are you feeling about the election? Well, I'm quite positive, honestly. I feel like the turnout is going to be in the favor of uh Abdul El Sayed, who I'm voting for today. And I feel like we are all here sick and tired of racism and hate. I'm here to choose America first.
I'm here to choose a future for my nephews and nieces, somewhere where we're all safe. We are all here for America. Uh you're fired up. You're on message. Absolutely. We're just heading to downtown Detroit where two watch parties within a 5-minute walk of each other. One for Abdul El Sayed, one for Mike Rogers. The entire world media is here. How are you feeling? Let me go to the next song. Give me 2 seconds, okay? Oh, I'm feeling amazing tonight. DJing for the Michigan Democratic Party for the second time in a row has been amazing.
And what have you made of the other side? There's been a lot of rhetoric, a lot of Islamophobia on the other side. Uh like my grandma always said, you give a person enough rope to hang themselves, they will. So, I'm not even worried about the other side. I think tonight is going to be team blue all the way. Did you make the hat yourself? Yes, I did. She's a rockstar, and likewise, she's trying to represent another rockstar. So, it's very fitting. What does his candidacy mean to you guys? Abdul is like my son. He grew up. He's He's a friend of this guy here. Oh, you know him?
Yeah, we grew up together. They went to school together. Oh, really? How do you feel about what happened over the past 2 years with Donald Trump in the White House? You voted for him. Voted for Trump? Yes, we voted for Trump. Really? And it was very disappointing. There's been a lot of dishonesty, a lot of lies. So, to finally have, you know, a light of hope uh to counter the evil, to counter the darkness in the world, we're really, really, really excited.
5 minute walk away, the mood was a little different. Not looking particularly great for the Republican Party this evening. Oh, yes, it is. You just got to think positive. Uh only 14% in. It's not over till it's over. Republicans are looking like they're going to lose Texas. May also be losing South Carolina.
Right. Isn't that a repudiation of Donald Trump's 2 years in office? Catastrophic failure, right? No, absolutely not. He is not a failure in my opinion. Why is that? Because I support the president and I believe in the progress that he has made. It's looking like the majority of voters in this state disagree with you. Well, the majority in state that are voting the way they are right now don't understand what's really going on and they've been brainwashed. El Sayed is the Muslim Brotherhood. He is part of that. His family has proven I mean it is quite extraordinary, right?
This Republican Party is about to suffer a kind of pretty catastrophic losses. A lot of people here don't seem to want to accept that and will not hold Donald Trump responsible at all. And I feel like we have been sensing and feeling the sort of palpable dismay around Donald Trump's presidency some of the most unlikely places in America that you can imagine. But Democrats really in their wildest dreams probably didn't imagine a landslide like this. It looks like the Democrats are about to win statewide in Texas, probably here in Michigan. What do you think that says about the state of Donald Trump's presidency?
Well, Donald Trump urged the voters to imagine that he was on the ballot. I think that's exactly what happened. The comprehensive rejection of Trump and Republicans is not the same thing as a comprehensive embrace of Democrats. We are going to need to show that we heard the message that we're going to do the work that the people hired us to do and I believe that a strong house and senate majority can do just that. They're about to call it. Put your hands together and welcome to the stage your US Senator Elect Dr.
MY NAME IS ABDULRAHMAN Mohamed Salah. So all the kids who watched this last month, to all the parents who struggled to explain why the president openly mocks someone for their name or how they pray, let them know tomorrow that the bad guys lost. Because it's our last election to get money out of. MONEY IN YOUR LET'S MAKE MICHIGAN WORK. WE DESERVE AN AMERICA for all her kids. So Michigan, let's go build. Thank you so much.
This is a seismic moment in American politics, and it marks the beginning of a decline for Donald Trump's political power. But what is built next remains very much up for grabs.
