Politics1 min read

Abdul El-Sayed's victory proves supporting Palestine is no electoral liability

By · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed secured a seat in the U.S. Senate by defeating Mike Rogers with 52 percent of the vote compared to Rogers's 46 percent. His path to victory required navigating fierce opposition, including a Democratic primary against Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who was backed by more than $30 million from AIPAC before endorsing Rogers in the general election. Despite facing the "Nonnegotiable Michigan" opposition campaign organized by local Jewish leaders and the Zioness Action Fund, El-Sayed maintained his pro-Palestinian platform while voicing support for Jewish safety. He now joins a newly elected congressional majority contending with significant pressure to overhaul ICE and end the…

Key points

  • A progressive platform centered on Palestinian rights successfully overcame heavily funde…: A progressive platform centered on Palestinian rights successfully overcame heavily funded traditional lobbying efforts in a major statewide race.
  • Local advocacy campaigns such as Nonnegotiable Michigan were unable to prevent the histor…: Local advocacy campaigns such as Nonnegotiable Michigan were unable to prevent the historic shift in Michigan's federal representation.
  • The election provided crucial support toward securing a unified Democratic majority acros…: The election provided crucial support toward securing a unified Democratic majority across both chambers of the upcoming Congress.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

As a Palestinian American human rights activist, I have spent much of my life working to bring internationals to Palestine to witness first-hand what is happening, and to support Palestinian popular resistance to Israel's criminal occupation and apartheid.

Palestinians have always given those who come to stand with them the same message: "Thank you for being here with us. But go back to your country, tell people what you saw, and change the policies of your governments that enable and sustain Israel's violence."

On 3 November, Michigan elected Dr Abdul El-Sayed to the US Senate, defeating Mike Rogers by a comfortable margin of 52 to 46 percent.

He has made history as the first Muslim American to be elected to the Senate, and only the sixth Arab American to win a seat in that chamber.

El-Sayed's victory was part of a blue tidal wave that swept Democrats into control of both houses of Congress.

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