Conlan Houston / CC BY-SA 4.0
Michigan’s senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed called his state “the capital of Arab America” during remarks at the CONNECT Arab America Empowerment Summit in Chantilly, Virginia, on Friday, Nov. 6, days after his Senate election victory.
“My name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, and I’m honored to be the next United States Senator from the great state of Michigan,” he told the audience. Drawing a contrast with the Washington area, he added: “Obviously Washington is the capital of the United States of America, but Michigan is the capital of Arab America.” The remarks appear in a video recording of the appearance.
The event took place at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles, outside Washington, D.C. The Arab America Foundation’s event announcement scheduled El-Sayed for the Friday evening program and said his appearance would focus on Arab American leadership, public service, identity and empowerment.
The summit program included discussions on civic participation, education, entrepreneurship, media and Arab American heritage. Organizers said before the event that they expected more than 300 participants from across the country; that was an advance estimate, not a final attendance count.
El-Sayed, a Democrat and the son of Egyptian immigrants, defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race and will become the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate, according to a race report. His remarks at CONNECT placed Arab American identity at the center of a post-election appearance before a community audience.
The foundation’s speaker announcement describes El-Sayed as an Egyptian American physician, epidemiologist and former public-health official. He previously led the Detroit Health Department and Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services.
His campaign’s stated priorities include reducing the influence of money in politics, improving household finances and passing Medicare for All.
JBizNews Desk | Washington, D.C.
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