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

Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Senate race by 52 to 46 per cent, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the chamber and only the sixth Arab American to do so. The author argues that his victory shows outspoken support for Palestine is no electoral liability in a Midwestern swing state and may have helped distinguish his campaign from political opponents.

The article says El-Sayed resisted pressure to affirm Israel’s “right to exist”, arguing that politicians are not similarly asked whether Palestine has a right to exist or Palestinians have a right to self-determination. It also describes his defeat of Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary, after her campaign received more than $30 million in backing from AIPAC, and notes that Stevens later endorsed Republican Mike Rogers. The author links the election result to broader expectations for the new Democratic-controlled Congress, including oversight of the Trump administration, the war on Iran and ICE.