University of Michigan students celebrated Abdul El-Sayed’s win over Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, saying they hoped his victory would lead to meaningful change.
“Everyone’s excited,” said Affaan Shaik, a first-year pre-med student. He said students had followed the election together and were cheering El-Sayed on.
The Ann Arbor campus had recently drawn attention after video showed conservative Jewish activist Lizzy Benichou being knocked to the ground during a campus discussion. Benichou was hosting a free-speech event when an argument about Islam and the rights of women in Iran turned physical. Video showed a student pushing and kicking her before campus police intervened and arrested the student.
The incident reflected the sharp political and cultural tensions surrounding colleges during the campaign. El-Sayed’s victory, meanwhile, came after Republicans sought to portray him as emblematic of the Democratic Party’s far-left wing.
In a victory speech in Detroit early Wednesday, El-Sayed criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which spent about $42 million campaigning against him during his difficult Democratic primary contest with U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens. He also used the Arabic phrase “Alhamdulillah,” meaning “Praise be to God.”
Students said young voters wanted concrete results, not just campaign promises. One student, Hernandez, said people were pleased with the outcome but hoped it would lead to real action.
El-Sayed also took aim at Rogers, a former Republican congressman, telling him to enjoy retirement and accusing him of choosing hate while Michigan chose hope. He said he hoped the state would not have to see someone like Rogers again.
Isabelle, a junior studying movement science, said El-Sayed had run a strong campaign and felt his opponent’s positions were less inclusive. She said inclusion mattered to many students at the university.
Stephanie Brooks, a staff member at the School for Environment and Sustainability, said students were worried about their futures and entering the workforce amid economic uncertainty. She felt El-Sayed’s campaign offered many of them a sense of hope and security.
Another student, Kabir, said rising prices and the cost of living had helped shape student turnout. He thought voters would respond to a progressive candidate promising policies they wanted.
El-Sayed’s connection to the university also helped draw students in. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007, and Shaik said he had recently met him on campus. Brooks said his status as a Michigan graduate helped motivate young voters.
