El-Sayed to Channel Nervous Energy in Bid to Become First Muslim Senator

Abdul El-Sayed is aiming for history. On Tuesday, the Democratic insurgent will try to become the first Muslim US Senator. He’s not going to spend Election Day relaxing. Instead, he plans to channel pure nervous energy.

El-Sayed told the Daily Mail on Monday that he would sit anxiously and scroll the internet. He also intends to visit polling places. It’s a classic move for a political nerd under pressure.

The atmosphere in Royal Oak, Michigan, was electric. Senator Elizabeth Warren had just warmed up the crowd. She voiced her support for El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers. This came right after former Congresswoman Haley Stevens shocked everyone with a stunning betrayal.

Warren’s backing helped fuel the unique energy of a final pre-election sprint. The Daily Mail caught up with El-Sayed before he plunged into the late-night press swarm. When asked about his day, he noted his absentee ballot was already counted. For the rest of the day, he admitted he would be a ball of nervous energy.

This rally was one of two final stops before Election Day. The last event features some star power. Rapper and actor Common is slated to close out El-Sayed’s months-long sprint to the finish line.

The numbers are shifting. A new MISEN poll shows El-Sayed leading Rogers by about 6 percentage points. The report details significant momentum among independent voters and young people. Other data points vary. Recent New York Times/Siena polling finds El-Sayed ahead by 11 points. Other surveys show the race much closer.

Then there is the Stevens factor. It remains unknown how much her Sunday endorsement of Rogers would move voters. Stevens declared her mind was made up during a tense appearance with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. She called herself an independent woman who made her decision.

The endorsement triggered immediate mutiny inside her campaign. The majority of her Capitol Hill team abruptly resigned. They discovered her political betrayal on social media, according to CNN.

El-Sayed has faced other scrutiny. He is a vocal critic of Israel. He previously campaigned with Hasan Piker, who has faced widespread antisemitism accusations. This drew concern from some in Michigan's Jewish community.

Reaction from the establishment was sharp. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer blasted the endorsement as 'a despicable betrayal.' He had backed Stevens during the primary. Michigan Democratic Party chairman Curtis Hertel accused Stevens of abandoning everything she claimed to believe in. He declared she would no longer have a place in the party.

El-Sayed, meanwhile, brushed aside the controversy. He continued campaigning with fellow Democrats. 'At the end of the day I actually don't think about Haley Stevens,' he told reporters. 'None of this matters.'

The stakes are high. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate. Democrats need to pick up at least four of them. They must win control of the upper chamber in the next Congress.