Abdul El-Sayed is elected senator from Michigan and promises to combat the weight of money in politics
A Democrat who describes himself as a doctor, not a politician, won the Senate race after a campaign that he said faced record spending from opponents.
BY THE X-TRADER NEWS NEWSROOM · REPORTING FROM FOX BUSINESS · 3 MIN
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed spoke as senator-elect from Michigan, in a speech broadcast on Fox Business, in which he celebrated his victory in the Senate race and promised to use the seat to, in his words, transform politics. The result was presented by himself on stage: "We did it."
El-Sayed stated that his campaign was built over a year and a half, traveling through the largest cities and smallest towns in the state. He asked for support for another six years and said that the objective was never just to occupy a seat in the United States Senate, but to use it to change the political system. He presented himself as a doctor, the son of immigrants, and not as a professional politician.
Money in the campaign
One of the central points of the speech was the volume of resources spent against him. According to El-Sayed himself, opponents invested more than US$350 million between the primary and general elections, which he classified as a record in Michigan. He said $70 million was spent on the primary alone, and cited an 11-to-1 cash disadvantage at that stage. The numbers are statements by the candidate and were not independently verified in broadcast.
He also stated that the Aipac group spent US$42 million against his candidacy. For El-Sayed, the victory shows that, in the dispute between "money and many", popular mobilization can prevail. He also criticized super PACs and interest groups, whom he promised to confront.
Campaign platform and tone
The elected senator defended the banner "money out of politics, money in your pocket" and the universal public health system ("Medicare for All"). He also spoke of defending the right to unionize for all workers, clean air and water, and equal pay for equal work. He cited the cost of living, with mention of fuel, groceries and housing, as a crisis to be faced.
El-Sayed accused his opponents of dividing the electorate with attacks on his name and faith, and said President Donald Trump insulted him during the race. In a direct tone, he addressed his Republican opponent, to whom he wished a happy retirement, and joked that Vice President JD Vance will have to inaugurate him in January.
In the field of foreign policy and the budget, he criticized what he called endless wars and said Michigan taxpayers want to see their taxes applied to schools, health care and infrastructure in the state. He also made harsh statements about Israel and the conflict in Gaza, which are the politician's positions and not facts established by the report.
What to watch out for
The transcript does not contain data on the vote margin or the balance of forces in the Senate. For investors, the speech signals an agenda of greater state intervention in health and regulation of political financing, topics that usually fuel the debate about public spending and tax burden in Washington. As the proposals depend on approval in Congress, their effects on public accounts, interest rates and the stock market remain uncertain.
Automatically translated from Portuguese.
