El-Sayed, 41, a progressive, defeated Republican Mike Rogers, a former FBI agent and congressman, to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

Speaking to cheering supporters in Detroit, El-Sayed said he had always said “inshallah,” or “God willing,” whenever the outcome of the race came up. “But today, tonight, we can turn that inshallah into alhamdulillah!” he said. He then quipped: “For the right-wing ops, that just means ‘praise be to God.’”

El-Sayed devoted part of his speech to AIPAC, which supported his opponents in the Democratic primary and the general election. He mocked the group for spending heavily against him and said it spent $42 million against his campaign, and that more than $350 million went toward efforts to defeat him, including about $70 million in the primary.

“We don’t want our money sent to do apartheid, or genocide, or war,” El-Sayed said, arguing that American tax revenue should instead finance schools, health care and infrastructure at home.

He has repeatedly said Israel committing genocide in Gaza.

Throughout the race, US President Donald Trump routinely criticized El-Sayed for his religion, calling him a “dangerous jihadist” and referring to him by the name “Mohammed El-Sayed.” In response, El-Sayed said in his speech. “Donald, I know you struggled with my name... So after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on and call me ‘Senator.’”

Source: i24News