'Shawarma law' not 'Sharia law': Abdul El-Sayed's remark goes viral after senate win

Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed secured a significant victory in the US midterm elections, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. El-Sayed, a 42-year-old epidemiologist and progressive Democrat, defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a closely watched Senate race. In his victory speech, El-Sayed jokingly referred to his "shawarma law" instead of "Sharia law", a remark that quickly went viral on social media.

El-Sayed, who used the Arabic expressions "inshallah" ("God willing") and "habibi" ("my love") during the campaign, used his speech to criticize US support for Israel and the conflict in Gaza. He also denounced Islamophobic attacks from President Donald Trump and other Republicans, who had called him a "communist," a "jihadist," and a member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.

El-Sayed's win extends the Republican Party's electoral drought in Michigan, as they have not won a Senate seat in the state since 1994. His victory is part of a broader wave of electoral breakthroughs for Democrats, who made significant gains in key statewide races and flipped control of both chambers of Congress, reflecting a growing dissatisfaction with the Trump administration.